Player Portrait

Brian Quincey

Viola

First season with the Oregon Symphony:

1996-1997

Most influential teacher(s):

I studied with Donald McInnes at USC. It was a small but intense class of viola players. We were expected to develop by leaps and bounds every single week for 4 years, or risk his wrath. Those years with him were quite unforgiving, but without them I would never have reached my full potential as a musician.

Earliest musical memory:

Every Sunday morning when I was little, my dad put on his record of Sousa marches, Frankie Lane’s “Hell Bent for Leather” and “Gypsy Love” with Bela Babai and his orchestra. Really inspiring stuff for a 3 year old.

"I first knew I would make music my career when ... "

When I was 13 or 14 years old, I had completely given up on the piano. I did decently in school, but playing the viola was the only thing that I was really good at doing.

"Other than performing music, I've always thought it might be fun to be a ... "

I’ve pondered this question for many years and have never come up with an answer. Next to cooking and reading, I have virtually no hobbies. I’ve decided that this can only mean that I feel fulfilled in my profession. I suppose this makes me either really deep or really shallow. The jury is still out on that one.

Favorite composer and/or period?

I love to play the late Romantic stuff. It offers the most stimulating challenge for viola.

What does this photograph say about your life?

In reality, my life revolves around my wife Denise, to whom I’ve been married for 10 years, but Pearl is just so stinking adorable that she had to be in the photo. She makes me seem so much more likable. Since I had the photo taken, everyone knows my dog, but nobody knows me. And that’s ok!

What do you enjoy most about performing?

Having an audience makes me play better. Every time I sit in my chair, I think, “I have to play well enough to justify people paying money to see and hear me.” It keeps complacency at bay.

What is your favorite part of being a member of the Oregon Symphony?

I’ve had orchestra jobs in which musicians have the same level of professionalism as in the Symphony, but here people go out of their way to make it a nice place to work. It has more of a family atmosphere, so coming to work is always a pleasure.

Player Portrait