Meet the ACO Musicians - Erika Yamada

1.  Where were you born?  Tell us a little about your youth and upbringing?

 

I was born in Kyoto, Japan. My family moved to the US when I was five, and I grew up mostly in the New Orleans area where my father was a violinist with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra.

 

2.  Earliest musical memories?

 

Since both my parents are professional musicians (they met in the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra), there was always music playing around the house.

 

3.  Your education?  Where did you attend college, primary teachers?

 

I attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and studied with Richard Killmer.

 

4.  Why did you choose your instrument?

 

My sister recommended the oboe to me since there were very few oboe players in the school band.

 

5.  When did you know you wanted to be a professional musician?

 

Growing up in a musical family, it kind of naturally happened.

 

6.  Who were/are your most important musical influences?

 

My family and my oboe teachers.

 

7.  Most inspiring composers?

 

Brahms symphonies are some of my favorites.....too bad he didn't write any oboe concertos.

 

8.  What would you be if not a musician?

 

I would be in some profession in the medical field.

 

9.  Your favorite thing about playing in the ACO?

 

Interesting repertoire and great colleagues.

 

10.  With what other ensembles do you perform/where do you teach?

 

I played with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra until it's demise in 2003. Presently, I play with the Boca Raton Symphonia, Miami City Ballet, and Orchestra Miami.

 

11.  What is in your CD player right now?

 

A New Orleans Tribute to Satchmo (my sister in New Orleans just got this for me).

 

12.  What do you like to do outside of work/hobby/pastime(s)?

 

Cross stitching, collecting teapot paraphernalia, archaeology (one summer I went on an archaeological dig at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cotez, Colorado).

 

13.  Anything else particularly interesting or enlightening you would like to share?

I'm named after a German toy store. When I was born my father happened to be away playing in an orchestra in Stuttgart, Germany. There was a toy store near the house he was staying in called "Erika". He wrote my mother about it, they both liked the name, and it was decided!