When you know, you know! From the moment she first heard about the harp at just four years old, Emily Levin decided she simply had to play it — and she didn’t stop asking until her parents finally found a teacher nearby.

Flash forward to 2015, when Emily became the youngest principal harpist in any U.S. orchestra after winning her position with the Dallas Symphony.

Now in her tenth season with the DSO, Emily reflects on what a decade in the job has taught her — both on stage and off — in this episode of Music Makers. We talk about the importance of connecting with audiences (including one memorable Pilates-class encounter with a fan!), and the passions that inspire her beyond the harp — from woodworking and crafting cocktails to spending time with her dogs, Charlie and JoJo.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Emily in this episode!

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What if we told you that legendary composer John Cage paid for the birth of one of our musicians? You're intrigued, aren't you? Well, Principal Bassoon Ted Soluri drops this unforgettable fun fact in the very first episode of Music Makers — and that's just the beginning.

Ted and Chelsey talk about his musical journey and how he found his way to the bassoon, one of the orchestra's most norotiously challenging instruments. He shares his experiences navigating auditions (including facing his fear of Mozart's Symphony No. 35 for the DSO audition in 2015) and reflects on how music — and life — have evolved since then.

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