William Hunt
Instrument: Violin
With the RPO since: 1975
My earliest musical memory is attending a recital at my high school by a violinist, relatively unknown at the time, named Itzhak Perlman. It was a very influential experience for me.
I knew I would make music my career when chemistry was much more difficult than I thought! In high school I couldn't decide whether to pursue music or medicine as a career. Chemistry decided it for me!
Most influential teachers: Otto Jacoby, Constantine Kiradjieff, and Paul Makanovitsky
Favorite composer and/or musical period: Favorite composer is probably Mozart, but this can change depending on what kind of mood I'm in at the time. Tomorrow my answer may well be Mahler, or Brahms, or one of many others. In a more general sense, my favorite musical period is Late Romantic.
What do you most enjoy about performing? Aside from the personal satisfaction from performing a great work, the audience reaction to the performance may be the single most enjoyable aspect of performing.
What is your favorite part of being a member of the RPO? Primarily the friendships and relationships developed over the years I have been a part of the ensemble.
When I'm not onstage, you might find me hiking, especially in the Adirondacks, engaged in my other employment as a tax preparer and financial consultant, or sipping a nice glass of wine at home with the family and a good movie.
I love to dine at several of Rochester's fine Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai restaurants.
My favorite thing about Rochester is the ability to get to work or any place else in town relatively quickly, something that is impossible in larger cities. Also, its a great place for family and for my two children to grow and develop.
What do think is the Orchestra's most important role in our community? Education and enrichment at all age levels.
Biography
William Hunt has played with the RPO since 1975. Since 1988, he has also been concertmaster of the Penfield Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestral posts include the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, Filarmonica de las Americas, Canary Islands Opera Festival Orchestra, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Fredonia Chamber Players, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and concertmaster of the Ann Arbor Symphony. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, master’s degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Rochester’s William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration.
