Five Questions plus one with Kaitlyn Maria Filippini on Her 21st Birthday

Maybe you’ve seen her play, but you didn’t even know it. If you’ve been to see Rod Stewart, or Josh Groban, or Mannheim Steamroller, there she was. At 21 years old, today, she’s lived a musical lifetime. Kaitlyn Maria Filippini is a ‘fiddle’ player, as she says, a violinist with chops of gold. Kaitlyn is also a fan of music, and of life. She is a cake baker in her spare time, and her good friends can attest to the fact that she puts her heart and soul into those cakes as well as into every note she plays.  The tattoo ‘cut-outs’  on her back make her a human violin of sorts, which is a lovely thing to see. She seems to commit to everything she does in just that same style, and is one interesting and beautiful young lady. I was fortunate to have her answer five questions a while back, and she has been patient as I have waited for her birthday to release her answers to the world.

1) How’s the music career going?

Music Career is going well! It’s been quite a ride, but now that I’m more experienced I’m realizing how amazing the past few years have been.

2) What’s happening this summer for you?

I’m pretty much a big nerd as well as a dedicated musician. Thus….I’m taking classes this Summer! haha
I enjoy challenging myself, even if it is summer I guess.
On the music side of things, it’s mostly “Finding Roanoke” (http://www.myspace.com/findingroanoke). They’re such a tight group, and their sound is so fresh! They just finished an album, and now I’m starting up with them. Definitely a great live band, so you should check ’em out! I’m Way stoaked 😀
Plus, I’m excited to perform solo for the luminary ceremony for Relay for life this year (June 13th at Millard West!. I’ve done it for the past couple of years, and I love it! I’m a big fan of their cause, and it’s an honor to perform.

3) What’s been the most exciting thing to happen to you in the past 6 months?

 I’m really excited that The Answer Team opened for Russian Circles at their Slowdown show! Recently I’ve performed with Mary J. Blige, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, was selected as Concertmaster for Creighton’s production of West Side Story, and was selected to return as Concertmaster for the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha’s 25th season (Locally, I perform with Skypiper, Sleeping at Last when they come to town and need string backup, and now I’m starting up with this amazing band called “Finding Roanoke”. I’ve had such great experiences with local musicians, and I really think that Omaha is a hidden source of some amazing talent. It has become quite the hot spot for local and National music.

I’m thankful and work hard for all the opportunities that that have been sent my way. My career as a professional violinist began when I was 15, when I joined the Musicians Union and began performing with Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, and Gladys Knight. I’m extremely thankful for these opportunities to play with such accomplished musicians! I’ve met some amazing people, and I’ll never take it for granted.

4) Tell me about any new recording you may have in the works?

A few weeks ago I was asked by a friend to record with a band called : “A No Coast November” for their CD that’s going to be sold in Hot Topic Stores. It’s just gotten through the mastering process, and I’m excited to hear the final product. Super fun group! As for other recordings in the works, I’m in the process of putting together a collection of my solo material that I have written as well as learning some of my favorite classical pieces for a recording. I’d like to take Bach’s Ciaccona , The Vitali Chaconne, as well as some of my other favorites and perform them in a new light with guitar pedals and a fresh interpretation. As for my own written works, they’re almost always on piano. Each piece has a distinct atmosphere of the feeling that I had when I wrote it. It sounds strange, but it’s a product of a complex neurologically based phenomenon called synesthesia. To me, every note has a color as well as every feeling and I’ve gotten to the point where I can translate a feeling’s color to an actual song. It’s just real, honest music. What you hear is exactly what’s going through my mind. Synesthesia is a huge part of my musical life, in that it gives the illusion of perfect pitch, is a tactic in memorizing pieces, and it’s great for musical interpretation.

5) Personal Life?

In between my music and Neuroscience endeavors I don’t have much spare time. However, I like knitting, drawing, hanging out with friends, sleeping, running, reading, and world peace. Otherwise, I’m a single lady and enjoy life : )

I’m very passionate about Music, but I’m also passionate about my major in school. I’m a Neuroscience major and I’ll be applying for Medical school soon! Too be honest, it’s not too uncommon for me to be slipping in random nerdy references into everyday conversation and trying to show you my brain anatomy app on my touch haha Music and Neuroscience are two necessary parts of who I am as a person.They’re not two mutually exclusive things. They meet in fascinating ways (for instance, the concept and interpretation of Synesthesia). Music has deeper more fundamental roots, but my passion for Neuroscience has become essential to who I am as well.
Like my passions…I’m complex haha However, I enjoy turning complexities into simplicities.

(This interview first appeared on examiner.com on August 3, 2009)