Life-Changing Art:Hilary Hahn

What piece of art changed your life? How did it affect you?

I’m not sure! I don’t remember any one thing changing my life. I wish I had a better answer! I recall music, performance, art, and literature always being a part of my life; we didn’t have a TV when I was growing up, so I listened to the radio with my parents and went to museums and read voraciously. I took dance classes and, when my dad won free tickets in radio call-in contests, we would go to plays, chamber concerts, operas, and pretty much any kind of performance we could get into. I recall key events, but I can’t place how they changed my outlook. I think I took the arts for granted, and that allowed me to rather naturally soak in everything I experienced. Probably what has most shaped my musical life has been my curiosity about all art forms. I find that creativity informs creativity regardless of the genre, and I become a better musician for everything that I learn and observe. The more I’m exposed to, the more my interest is piqued. This has translated into my visiting museums, theaters, or concerts in pretty much every city I perform in, and that in turn has made me feel much more informed about the artistic world around me. With each piece of art or music that moves me, I find myself even more grateful to be able to work in music.

Acclaimed violinist Hilary Hahn studied at Peabody Conservatory as a youngster. A Grammy-winning recording artist, she performs with the BSO June 4-7.