Anne Stohl, violin

Anne grew up in a home that was full of music.  Her mother was a pianist and a special education teacher, so Anne played piano from the moment she could reach the keys.  She first fell in love with the violin at her sister’s first big violin concert.  She asked for three years to switch to violin and her mother finally relented, despite concern about too much competition between the two siblings.  Fortunately, that didn’t happen. 

When asked about memorable concert experiences, Anne says, “We played downtown for the 4th of July fireworks and debuted the ‘Battleship North Carolina March’ by Steven Errante. There was so much energy and excitement that it was definitely a great experience!  Also, our recent Symphony Pops concert was quite memorable because I was able to share the stage with my daughters who are both in the Girls Choir of Wilmington.” Anne’s daughters, Maddie (15) and Camden (12), also play the violin in the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra. 

Anne loves arranging music and recently started arranging string orchestra versions of pop songs including songs by The Beatles, Katy Perry, and Pink, which keeps her students inspired and excited to play. 

In addition to the violin, Anne also plays the piano, viola, and mandolin.  When she’s not playing with the symphony, she performs in the Tallis Chamber Orchestra, and loves to cook, bake, read swim and spend time with her family.   

Here's an interview with Anne in 2020:

What instrument(s) do you play?
Violin, viola, piano, mandolin and i love to sing

How long have you played your instrument(s)?
I have played violin since I was 12 years old, so 35 years.

How long have you been a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician?
I joined the WSO in 1994, so have been a member for 26 years

What do you do for a career?
I am a professional violin and viola teacher and have a studio that I run out of my home. I play professionally with the WSO, Tallis Chamber orchestra and freelance regularly in Wilmington Wilmington and surrounding areas. I am adjunct faculty at Cape Fear Academy were I started their Middle and High School String Orchestras. Lastly I co-direct the Stevenson Stohl Tour Group with my sister, Shelly DiLoreto. This is a group of advanced Middle and High School students who perform a wide variety of music and put on concerts in town and wherever our annual tour takes us.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine which is 10 minutes south of Portland.

What is your favorite song, artist, and/or musical memory?
I love all different styles of music, so this is a big question for me. I love Bartok and Mendelssohn, Jay Ungar, Joni Mitchell, Ed Sheeran, Abba, Grateful Dead, Billie Eilish and even top 40 music of today. I listen to everything and try to stay relevant.

Favorite musical memories are performing with Linda Lavin when my daughters, Maddie and Camden, sang in that concert with the Girls Choir of Wilmington. Also playing with the WSO with my students, Camden Stohl and Amelia Smith, who won the Richard Deas concerto competition.

Favorite meal or restaurant?
Thai and Chinese food are definitely my favorites. Double Happiness and Indochine are my go-tos.

Favorite beverage?
As boring as this is, water or coffee.

What is your favorite vacation?
My family took a trip to London and Scotland a few years ago. It was amazing. We stayed with friends and were able to enjoy it from a local perspective and not the tourist perspective. My girls are still convinced that we saw the Loch Ness Monster.

You're stuck on a desert island... What book, music/album/artist and/or movie do you want with you??
Probably one of those big collections of music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Just want to cover all of my bases and have music I can sing and dance to.

What's your pet situation?
We have 2 rescue dogs. Fritz is 12 and is a chihuahua mix and Riley is 13 and is an English Springer spaniel and dachshund mix. We also have a 17 year old cat named Lusie.

What do you want people to know about the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
Having local professional symphony is a gift. It is a draw for professional musicians looking for a place to settle down and start their careers, a place for local professionals to perform with other professionals to provide amazing concerts and entertainment to our incredible community and a foundation for our youth symphony to operate under.

The fact that our city has a professional orchestra that has stood the test of time and has been here for as long as it has is a testiment to the love, appreciation and support our community pours into it.

How are you keeping yourself occupied while being at home all day?
I am teaching 44 private lessons weekly via Zoom and facetime. I started a youtube series for students to learn fun songs that are outside of their normal repertoire, such as Somewhere over the rainbow, Amazing grace, etc. I am cooking a lot and trying new recipes that I don't typically have the time to create. I think I have mastered the buttermilk biscuit, so that is very exciting! I am exercising regularly to walk off the biscuits, and playing board games and cards and doing puzzles with my family.
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Any words of wisdom to help others through this pandemic?
Try to look at what you can do instead of what you can't do with the time you have been given. Also remember that you're not alone. We are all going through this together.

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