Beverly Andrews, Concertmaster

Beverly comes from a musical family.  Beverly attributes her career as a professional musician to a deathbed request made by her grandmother back in 1930.  Her dying wish was to make sure that her daughter, only 5 years old at the time, received piano lessons.  So, Beverly’s mother grew up playing the piano, and passed along the family trade.  She now attends every WSO concert since moving to town a few years ago.     

When asked why she likes playing in the orchestra, Beverly says, “The sound of all those orchestral instruments is like the swelling of a huge wave in the ocean.  We ride the wave like surfers or like dolphins leaping with musical joy in that wave of sound.  It's exhilarating.  It's satisfying. It fills holes in your soul.”

When Beverly was in 4th grade, the public school system in Midland Michigan gave hearing tests to all the children.  The results said, "Beverly sure can hear!", and she was asked to begin playing a stringed instrument at school, which changed her life.   

At the dress rehearsal for her college senior recital she was playing with such passion that she ended Lalo's “Symphonie Espanole” with such flair that she launched her bow out into the middle of the auditorium. She says of the incident, “Luckily my bow didn't break and since then, I have hung onto it.”

Here's an interview with Beverly in 2020:

How long have you played your instruments?
Since 4th grade!

How long have you been a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician?
In 2021 it will have been 30 years since I joined.

What do you do for a career?
Professional violinist ... which includes orchestral, solo, ensemble work and lots of passing on the love of music to others.

Where did you grow up?
Zurich, Switzerland and before that, Midland Michigan

What is your favorite song, artist, and/or musical memory?
Most orchestral pieces are so exciting to play that they all practically give me the shivers, but if you’d like me to be specific, most recently Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is my favorite.

My most recent favorite musical memory is the mother daughter concert I presented with my two daughters in January. Imagine my joy at seeing them grow up and then become my professional colleagues!

Favorite meal or restaurant?
Swiss cheese fondue at my house... it’s a family tradition on special days ever since my Swiss neighbor lady hopped the fence between our houses to supervise the making of it. (Always use a wooden spoon and stir it in a figure 8!)

Favorite beverage?
We call it “Kure Crack” but it’s really Crystal Lite Pink Lemonade. We drink it all summer long.

What is your favorite vacation?
I like to exchange my house in Kure Beach with people from around the world through HomeExchange.com. The last three times were with families from Paris, the Swiss Alps, and the fjords of Norway. Usually I arrange concerts in churches before I go and so I meet a lot of friendly, welcoming people. In Norway, they helped me find my lost relatives!

You're stuck on a desert island... What book, music/album/artist and/or movie do you want with you??
Could I please have my violin? Then I’d be set.

What's your pet situation?
Through the years I’ve had wonderful dogs and lots of friendly cats, but right now I have grandchildren. 😁

What do you want people to know about the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
The WSO is a gem in the crown of our town. It educates 100’s of children with its youth programs and entertains Wilmington with its diverse, interesting, and finely tuned high caliber performances. For me, personally, it has given me an orchestral performance platform without necessitating hours of travel to far away towns. Thank you, WSO.

How are you keeping yourself occupied while being at home all day?
I’m playing lots of neighborhood porch concerts. Thank goodness my neighbors like music!

Any words of wisdom to help others through this pandemic?
Smile. A lot. And pass it on.

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