Lara St. John Quotes

Powerful Lara St. John for Daily Growth

About Lara St. John

Lara St. John is a renowned Canadian-American violinist, composer, and conductor, known for her virtuosity, versatility, and fearless exploration of music genres. Born on November 17, 1973, in Montreal, Canada, to a family with a rich musical background, Lara St. John's passion for music was ignited at an early age. She began her violin studies at the age of four and made her orchestral debut at the age of eight as a soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. St. John's formative years were spent under the tutelage of prominent teachers such as Zinaida Gilels, Victor Danchenko, and Sally Thomas. She furthered her studies at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she earned her Bachelor's degree and later became a faculty member. St. John's career has been marked by groundbreaking interpretations of classical repertoire as well as her commitment to contemporary music. Her major works include recordings of the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, which garnered critical acclaim, and her collaborative album with composer and pianist John Adams, "The Gospel According to the Other Mary." In addition to her performance career, St. John is also an accomplished composer, with works performed by the San Francisco Symphony, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, among others. She has been honored with numerous awards, including the Juno Award for Best Classical Album, the Echo Klassik Award, and the Opus Klassik Award. Lara St. John continues to push boundaries in the classical music world, combining her talents as a performer, composer, and conductor to create unique and compelling musical experiences. Her unconventional approach, coupled with her technical prowess, makes her one of the most intriguing figures in contemporary music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music is a language that transcends words."

Lara St. John's quote underscores the universal, emotional power of music as it connects with individuals beyond the limitations of spoken or written language. Much like words convey ideas and feelings, music can evoke complex emotions, tell stories, and create shared experiences among people regardless of their native tongue or culture. This quote invites us to appreciate the expressive qualities of music that resonate within us, serving as a powerful means of communication and connection across borders and boundaries.


"The violin and I have always been inseparable - it's like an extension of my body."

This quote suggests that for Lara St. John, her connection with the violin is profound and intimate, almost symbiotic. The instrument has become an integral part of her identity, so seamlessly integrated that it feels like an extension of herself - a true testament to their shared bond and mastery of her craft.


"In music, there are no mistakes, only opportunities to discover new paths."

This quote suggests that in the realm of music, every event or note is neither inherently good nor bad but rather an opportunity for exploration and discovery. It emphasizes the creative potential hidden within seemingly erroneous or unconventional situations, as these can lead to new and exciting paths in the composition or performance of music. Essentially, Lara St. John is encouraging musicians to embrace spontaneity and improvisation, viewing each 'mistake' as a chance for innovation and growth.


"When you play music, especially the violin, you really do put a piece of your soul into every note."

This quote suggests that playing music, particularly the violin, involves a deep emotional connection where one pours a part of their inner self or 'soul' into each note they play. It implies that music is not just an art form, but also a medium through which musicians express their feelings and personal experiences, making it an intimate and profound expression of one's identity.


"I believe that if you're going to perform, it should be something you feel deeply about."

This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and emotional connection in musical performance. Lara St. John suggests that genuine passion for a piece is crucial when performing, as it allows for a more profound and impactful interpretation. By approaching music from a place of deep personal feeling, artists can convey emotions to their audience more effectively, thereby enhancing the overall experience of the performance.


There is no earthly reason why a solo string instrument or voice, having the possibility to play or sing pure intonation, should want, or try, to be tempered.

- Lara St. John

Voice, Play, Reason, Intonation

I am very lucky and grateful to have this living link to a past era, the violin presumably having much more history to it than the later portion that I know.

- Lara St. John

Grateful, Lucky, Very, Presumably

What is classical music if not the epitome of sensuality, passion, and understated erotica that popular music, even with all of its energy and life, cannot even begin to touch?

- Lara St. John

Touch, Epitome, Classical, Understated

For many years, the government of Canada has massively supported orchestras and the arts in general.

- Lara St. John

Government, Canada, General, Orchestra

Ergo, because of the money problem, it is probable that our orchestras will soon go down in quality.

- Lara St. John

Money, Problem, Will, Orchestra

Mostly this problem is contained in the fact that the US makes it so difficult for Canadians to get green cards (you heard it here), but if an American orchestra really wants a player, they have their ways.

- Lara St. John

Fact, Here, Mostly, Orchestra

I had been playing since I was 2 years old, never remembering a life without music, always playing everything naturally and mostly by ear, and all the grownups wanted were more scales and drudgery out of me.

- Lara St. John

Been, Had, Mostly, Grownups

However, the thought hit me that this was a pretty pathetic way to kick the bucket - being accidentally poisoned during a photo shoot, of all things - and I started weeping at the idiocy of it all.

- Lara St. John

Thought, Pretty, However, Idiocy

Normally, the same strange impulse which brings a crowd to an accident is present in the reaction to a concert in which something goes wrong.

- Lara St. John

Crowd, Reaction, Which, Impulse

A good example of how it must have been is today's world of conducting, which is still utterly dominated by men, and the prejudice the few female conductors have to battle even today is astounding.

- Lara St. John

Been, Still, Which, Conductors

Music is art, art is life, and we are who we are, and all of these aforementioned women, unless they should choose not to, will be performing well into the next many decades because they are great artists.

- Lara St. John

Art, Will, Next, Decades

Let me be very honest and just say that if any airline would let me take the violin and the laptop on board I would fly that airline all the time.

- Lara St. John

Violin, Say, Very, Board

Another thing: despite my youthful appearance, I am quite capable of making decisions.

- Lara St. John

Capable, Making, Another, Youthful

The concept is basically; that the pieces we know and love are made up of scales, arpeggios, and the like.

- Lara St. John

Love, Pieces, Like, Scales

There are no benefactors in Canada because there is no incentive.

- Lara St. John

Canada, Because, Incentive

Although I do not have a family, I have eyes, ears and imagination, and know, as most people know, that the importance of one's children is paramount.

- Lara St. John

Imagination, Importance, Paramount

I see no reason to hide who I am or what I look like.

- Lara St. John

Reason, Hide, See, No Reason

Our dad was a great guy and we will never forget him.

- Lara St. John

Forget, Father's Day, Never, Great Guy

Historically, the notes of scale systems anywhere have been based on these pure harmonics.

- Lara St. John

Been, Notes, Based, Historically

I thought that maybe it is not so much, as he seems to think, that the world loses interest in female performers after they hit a certain age, than the performers lose interest in the world.

- Lara St. John

Thought, Think, Performers, Loses

Naturally, I was a bit of a curiosity, being the first hydrogen peroxide ingestion patient they had ever seen.

- Lara St. John

Curiosity, Had, Being, Hydrogen

And apparently things like a Vindaloo curry are out for the rest of my life, or at least a long time.

- Lara St. John

Rest, My Life, Like, Curry

When you arrive at your destination, pay absolutely no attention to the thing people call jetlag.

- Lara St. John

Call, Absolutely, Arrive

Raising a small child as a woman while travelling 10 months out of the year would, I believe, be something I would not be able or even want to do, although with the amazing example of Leila, I am no longer so sure.

- Lara St. John

Woman, Small, Year, Raising

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