Ravinia 2023 Issue 6

Right: When Tessa Lark last appeared at Ravinia in 2014, she had won the Indianapolis Competition just a month earlier. Surrounding her concert, the violinist teamed up with Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play programs to be a Guest Artist in the Classroom for partner elementary schools in Lake County and Chicago. Above: Following her two years of fellowship at Ravinia Steans Music Institute, Lark participated in the Spring 2012 alumni tour alongside mentor Miriam Fried, now New York Philharmonic cellist Nathan Vickery, and Aizuri Quartet co-founding violist Ayane Kozasa. She admires Mark O’Connor traversing different musical genres. Through him, she said, she discovered bassist Edgar Meyer, whom she enthu- siastically hailed as another musical hero. “He is a brilliant artist who will go to great lengths to honor the quality of artmaking. I absolutely adore and admire that in him, and it inspires me.” Fried remains a profound influ- ence. “Everything that comes out of her mouth is beautiful wisdom,” she said. Perhaps the best advice she received from her mentor was to ap- preciate a work-life balance. “A lot of musicians say their work is their life,” she said. “It sounds very romantic. But the older I get, the more I appreciate honoring that distinction. It doesn’t mean that you’re not always a musi- cian, it just means you respect down- time. It enhances the music making.” Another inspiring collaboration was with pianist Mitsuko Uchida. “She told me she started to play slower because she has a lot more to say. I thought that was a beautiful message about aging with music and finding more appreciation in every moment. That’s a life lesson as well.” Not surprisingly, Lark puts a great priority on arts education. “It’s what the world really needs now,” she said. “It gave me a sense of purpose grow- ing up. It helped me find a connection with colleagues and a way to make friends, especially after the pandemic, when we all realized the importance of others. You can’t really make great music unless you’re connected with others. I’d say music is like sports in that respect. You have to strategize and collaborate and be creative and supportive. But, the extra elements the arts bring is harder to find in sports, and that is a nuance that we clearly need in the world right now, empathy and a sense of understanding and connection to a human citizen of the world. It’s a simple approach to let any young student find their way to whatever profession they may be interested in.” Lark has accomplished much in her young career. She earned a Grammy nomination in 2020 in the Best Clas- sical Instrumental Solo category for her debut recording, Michael Torke’s Sky , a concerto written specifically for her. Lincoln Center honored her with its Emerging Artist Award. She has been a featured soloist with orchestras around the world—“But not yet the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,” she said, something she is eager to rectify. It “just tickles me,” she said, that she is collaborating with her musical heroes, such as Edgar Meyer and Seat- tle-based violinist James Ehnes. “I’ve spent several years listening to James Ehnes,” she said “I used to wear out his CDs. Now I’m in a group with Edgar Meyer and we play at James’s music festival. I have to pinch myself.” Lark looks forward to returning to Ravinia and to once again be playing in front of a live audience. “Such a relief,” she said. “I had all that pent-up energy with nowhere to go. I am re- suscitated in a way when I get in front of an audience. I feel whole again.” Donald Liebenson is a Chicago-based entertainment writer. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune , Chicago Sun-Times , Los Angeles Times , and on RogerEbert.com. The first Ravinia concert he attended without his parents was Procol Harum in 1970. RAVINIA MAGAZINE • AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 14