Musician spotlight: Addy & Dylan Sanchez
To welcome in the New Year, the Oakville Symphony musician spotlight shines on violinist siblings Addy (Adelaide) and Dylan Sanchez. They both received a Young Artist Award in 2019-20, and Addy also won the award in the 2016-17 season. We asked them to describe the most challenging aspect of playing the violin, and to tell us what they’ve been up to during the pandemic.
For Addy, the greatest challenge is “the level of motivation and dedication which you need to put into your craft.” She says it’s not always easy, but the end product is definitely rewarding.
Addy has been busy with school, and a lot of practising. She’s currently in her fourth and final year of undergrad in violin performance at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. [In normal times] outside of playing with the Oakville Symphony, she also plays with the U of T Symphony Orchestra and with a chamber group.
Now 17, Dylan has been playing the violin since age six and the piano since age four, and he can’t decide which is his favourite between the two instruments.
Dylan started playing the violin at a Suzuki music camp in Montreal along with Addy. He says that the most challenging part of playing the violin is playing in tune at the same time as executing various bow techniques.
To keep busy during the pandemic he has been composing for solo piano and unaccompanied violin. He also completed his grade 10 RCM exam for violin remotely. According to Dylan, his pet Pokemon say they wish he would practice where they are more. He has been watching (and playing) lots of tennis; reading Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials; and listening to Prokofiev’s piano music.
(With thanks to Jill Yokoyama.)