Naomi Glozman’s relationship with her violin has been nothing short of rocky. It all started at four when she started lessons for the first time. In a sudden change of mood, she quit just half a year later. Yet after turning five, she changed her mind again, returning to her parents and asking to take lessons again. Throughout it all, Glozman credits the people around her, particularly in her time with the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, for shaping and kindling her enduring passion for the violin.

Glozman joined the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, or MYS, when she was eight. She played at the entry level for three years before progressing and moving up to the Philharmonic orchestra. However, like her journey as a solo violinist, her time at MYS has had its ups and downs. As such, when COVID hit, Glozman lost interest and quit.

Not only till this year did Glozman rediscover her interest in playing with MYS. “I was kind of influenced by my violin friends. We all play [as] a group together… So I auditioned,” she said. To her surprise, she made the highest orchestra in MYS, Symphony. “It’s a pretty big thing for me.”

Her experience as a violinist has been defined by those around her. She initially quit at four because of a strict teacher. When she came back and found a new teacher named Susan, she “really loved it, and [she] realized how much [she] missed it,” Glozman said. She has stayed with the same teacher ever since. “She’s just really helped me grow as a violinist and also as a person.”

In addition to her teacher, friends have also improved her experience. Glozman found a community at MYS that shared a fiery passion for the orchestra and classical music. “They’re not being forced to do it, and I think that was something I needed to see to keep me going with the skill and just keep practicing,” she said.

Besides the people, Glozman also enjoys the challenging yet fun music MYS has introduced to her. So far this year, the Symphony orchestra has already performed a fall concert, where they played “Danzón No. 2” by Arturo Márquez, Bach’s “Fantasia & Fugue in C Minor”, and “Ballade in A Minor” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Her favorite was Márquez’s Danzón because of its unique and dynamic contemporary Mexican style, which deviates from the European classical music the orchestra usually plays. “We all loved Danzón because it was so much fun. We got to speed up through it, and there were plucking portions,” Glozman said.

They are currently rehearsing for their upcoming winter concert, where they will play “Zigeunerweisen” by Pablo de Sarasate, Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Voices of Spring Waltz”, and “Symphonic Metamorphosis” by Paul Hindemith. Out of the three, she enjoys playing the well-known Spring Waltz. The bright and lively piece elegantly captures the essence of spring by intertwining the lyrical strings with the delicate woodwind accompaniment. To keep up with the complex music, Glozman tries to maintain a rigorous practice schedule. “I really try to aim for an hour a day, but it’s difficult. It’s really difficult,” she said.

So far, her return to MYS has been nothing short of exceptional. The past few months have opened her eyes to the rich world of classical music and the delight of playing with other passionate musicians. Now, with her friends’ company and her teacher’s support, she looks forward to continuing her musical journey with the orchestra, drawing inspiration and joy from each and every note. Glozman said, “When you join an orchestra where everyone’s practicing two hours every day… you can talk to them about the music, [and] it makes [me] feel like there’s a lot that I can get out of this if I keep going with it.”