Brava! by Susan Poliniak
Ms. Daisy Jopling Founder
The Daisy Jopling Foundation New York
Daisy Jopling at Brava!
CLASSICAL/ROCK VIOLINIST Daisy Jopling, who was born in L ondon and currently lives in New York, has played as a solo artist at London’s Royal Albert Hall (at the tender age of 14!), toured the world with the Daisy Jopling Band and the creativ e string trio Triology, recorded eight CDs, and composed music that has been performed in major concert v enues throughout the world. A documentary film about the The String Pulse Experience (see below) has aired on Mountain Lake PBS, and is planned for a national PBS airing in 2018. Learn more about Daisy and her music at daisyjoplingband.com.
You have the capacity to be greater than your wildest dreams in every way.
What is your most memorable moment as a musician so far? My most memorable experience is performing for 30,000 people at the opening of the Vienna Festival; it was an extraordinarily uplifting moment for me.
What is The String Pulse Experience? The String Pulse Experience is an original show created by me in collaboration with rhythm specialist Michael Feigenbaum and flutist/composer/producer Brian Delma Taylor. The music is incredibly eclectic, spanning from gypsy, reggae, Irish folk music, and classical to rock and pop. It is scored for my band, soloists, and students to be able to play in string orchestras, wind and brass bands, and choirs. We also have a lighting design and projections made especially for the show. The students are mentored by world-class professional musicians for one to six months, and then perform alongside them on a major stage.
What’s next on the horizon for you? We are creating a concert for the Earth at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, with a 1,000- children choir. I have already worked with 930 choral students, so we are pulling them together and adding a few more. It is planned for early spring 2018.
Can you tell us about your foundation? The Daisy Jopling Foundation (daisyjoplingfoundation.org) creates extraordinary musical experiences that enrich lives and empower youth to become
Why do you feel that music education is important for kids today? Music education is about self-expression and listening, which requires the student to be rooted in the awareness of the moment and to be in touch with what they are experiencing and feeling. We have also noticed our students empowered on many levels—more confident in everything they do, and in who they are. more confident, creative, and empathetic human beings.
What advice do you have for kids who want to follow in your footsteps—and music educators who want to help them? For the students: I want to remind each one of you that whatever dream you have, it is absolutely possible for you to create. You have the capacity to be greater than your wildest dreams in every way. Stay open to help coming your way from the most unexpected places. It is there waiting for you. And for the music educators: Thank you. Please know that you are honored and profoundly valued by all professional musicians, and all whose lives you and your students touch.