{"id":113346,"date":"2025-04-08T13:19:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T17:19:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=113346"},"modified":"2025-04-08T14:55:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T18:55:17","slug":"interview-violinist-randall-goosby-talks-finding-calling-child-upcoming-toronto-gig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/04\/08\/interview-violinist-randall-goosby-talks-finding-calling-child-upcoming-toronto-gig\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Violinist Randall Goosby Talks About Finding His Calling As A Child And His Upcoming Toronto Gig"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Violinist
Violinist Randall Goosby (Photo: Kaupo Kikkas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Violinist Randall Goosby will be performing a recital at Toronto\u2019s Koerner Hall with pianist Zhu Wang on April 23. The recital tour of North America and beyond fits in between Goosby\u2019s performances as an orchestral soloist.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll be bringing an interesting program of music that spans a couple of centuries of music.<\/p>\n

We spoke to Randall about the violin, and the music he\u2019ll be performing.<\/p>\n

Randall Goosby, violin<\/h2>\n

Goosby’s talent showed itself early, and he began studying the violin at the age of 7. At 9, he made his orchestral debut with the Jacksonville Symphony, and at 13, he performed with the New York Philharmonic in a Young People’s Concert.<\/p>\n

From there, he went on to study at the Juilliard School’s Pre-College program with a full scholarship. He earned a Bachelor of Music studying with Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho, followed by a Master of Music from the Juilliard School of Music on a Kovner Fellowship, and then an Artist Diploma in 2022.<\/p>\n

He was signed to an exclusive contract with Decca Records in 2020 at the age of 24 while still a student.<\/p>\n

Highlights of his 2024\/25 season include performances with the Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, the Orchestre symphonique de Montr\u00e9al, and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, and a tour with the London Philharmonic through the United States. His recital tour with pianist Zhu Wang has interspersed his orchestral concert schedule, with appearances in the US, Germany, and the Netherlands along with his Toronto date.<\/p>\n

An avid chamber musician, Randall has spent his summers performing at the Perlman Music Program (which he is a graduate of), the Verbier Festival Academy, and Mozarteum Summer Academy, among others. He\u2019s also taken the time to give back to the community, and has been involved with the Opportunity Music Project and Concerts in Motion in New York City.<\/p>\n

Randall performs on the 1708 “Strauss” Stradivarius, on loan from the Samsung Foundation of Culture in Korea.<\/p>\n

\"Violinist
Violinist Randall Goosby (Photo: Ollie Ali)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Randall Goosby: The Interview<\/h3>\n

Why the violin?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an interesting question,\u201d Randall says. \u201cMy Mom basically implored myself and my younger siblings to play an instrument,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI was six years old. I chose the violin.\u201d<\/p>\n

His mother was delighted, but not so sure of the next step \u2014 how to get an instrument he could play as a child. They found a local music store with a helpful owner.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, you know your son is quite young, and his hands are small,\u201d says Goosby. The music store owner\u2019s theory was that violin was especially difficult for small hands, leading to many kids quitting too soon. He suggested beginning with the piano.<\/p>\n

So, Goosby began with the piano, but it was problematic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t take super well to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to his Mom\u2019s recollection, his interest in learning music quickly began to fade, but was quickly regained when he finally got a violin in his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hunger for learning the violin had an opportunity to grow,\u201d he reflects of the delay. It built up his enthusiasm. \u201cI don\u2019t think I considered any amount of playing to be practice,\u201d he says. That spirit continued for years. \u201cI would come home and throw open the case and play.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the choice of a small child may seem random, in this case, it was intuitive.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn some ways I think it chose me.\u201d<\/p>\n