Living On A High Note
The Katharine DeLorenzo Story by Chip Rogers
he winter months often send us running indoors to escape the bitter temperatures, and we find relief in food and music to pass the time. While many will be plugged into iPods, Middlebury hockey coach Katharine DeLorenzo will be on the other side of that music chain — as one of the people performing stunning works of art to brighten the dark days of winter. A former concert violinist who has performed at the Kennedy Center, DeLorenzo’s journey to National Coach of the Year honors started with a simple bow.
T
The youngest of seven children, DeLorenzo was born into a musical family. Her father was a percussionist in a dance band while her mother was a concert pianist. Mrs. Perry taught 12-15 students in her own studio regularly, and the house was ablaze in music daily.
“I just assumed it was like that in everyone’s house,” recalled DeLorenzo. “I grew up with music every day, and it is still something that binds my family together.”
In fourth grade, the baby of the family had to choose her preferred instrument. In this wonderfully musical ensemble, two great-aunts helped set DeLorenzo on what would be a tremendous musical journey by bringing out two antique violins. DeLorenzo’s family had emigrated from Austria, bringing with them not just the spirit of the importance of classical music, but also the very tools that created such a magical atmosphere.
Two of those tools were violins that had been crafted in 1719 and 1792, precious instruments worth tens of thousands of dollars that most likely belonged in a museum. Instead, they were used to indoctrinate this little girl into the world of string instruments, starting her on a path that would take her into the inner circle of the world maestros like Itzhak Perlman and
Isaac Stern, bringing her to the Kennedy Center and world-renowned conservatories along the way.
The daughter of a Naval officer who worked at the Pentagon, DeLorenzo grew up surrounded by discipline as well. This aspect of family life proved vital as she pursued athletics and music with equal vigor, training on the violin daily while experiencing athletics with her large family.
During her prep years, DeLorenzo trained up to ten hours a day on the violin. When she wasn’t striving to conquer the complexities of the string instrument, she was found on the athletic fields, running allegro with a stick, showing off her expertise in that discipline.
While in high school, DeLorenzo was fortunate enough to meet Carlton Herrett, a premier violinist who would mentor her over the next 40 years as her personal instructor and a valued friend.
“He was one of the most influential people in my life,” stated DeLorenzo. “He was a great teacher for me; he understood me and how to reach me.”
Herrett, the first violinist for the National Symphony Orchestra, helped the youngster not just with the ins and outs of the violin but also helped her continue down the music road that included stops such as a fellowship in high school with the Kennedy Center. She spent three days a week training at the prestigious center for the arts, training with world-renowned classicists like Perlman and Stern, developing friendships with them along the way.
Her love of athletics and music led her to Goucher College in Baltimore, where she was able to pursue a major in music performance while playing hockey and lacrosse and swimming for the Gophers.
39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60