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Candace Guirao, Principal Second Violin Founding Member of the Left Coast Ensemble and Clavion Quartet; plays with San Francisco Opera Orchestra; served as guest concertmaster with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia in Spain. Graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory. Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Principal teachers: Isadore Tinkleman, Stephen Clapp, Zaven Melikian. As far back as I can remember, my four sisters and I made up ballets, plays, and music. My mother made us costumes and we had lots of musical instruments around the house. On weekday mornings, my parents played classical music on the stereo (I particularly remember Vivaldi's "Four Seasons") and we dressed in our tutus or costumes and danced from couch to floor to chair to... When I was eight years old we all started piano lessons. That year my aunt inherited a violin, and my mom suggested one of us take it up. I was so excited. I had to have lessons! I began group Suzuki lessons, and was encouraged by the teacher to study privately. I started with Mutsuko Tatman, who was a great teacher. My progress was rapid, and I loved playing and performing. I'm so thankful to have such supportive parents who were excited to explore the arts with their children. When I reached high school, I began attending music programs like the California Music Center, run by Irving Klein, and the prep program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where I studied with Isadore Tinkleman. I also began entering competitions, like the Pepsi-Cola young artist competition, where I received an honorable mention. I was really excited to do so well. After graduating from high school, I bean studying at the Oberlin Conservatory. As inspired as I was by being surrounded by great musicians, I wasn't completely sure that I wanted to spend my life in music. I took some time off to think things through, and it became clear to me that music was the right choice. I enrolled at the San Francisco Conservatory, and began studying again with Isadore Tinkleman. Mr. Tinkleman ("Izzy") was very supportive, yet very firm. He was like a father to me. Izzy really emphasized the emotional side of being a musician (although he demanded technical perfection as well!), and this greatly expanded my love of music and music-making. Since leaving the Conservatory, I have remained in San Francisco and established a life for myself as a musician and a violin teacher. Being a musician has provided me with some wonderful travel opportunities: in the last two years I have toured Japan twice and spent some time in Spain as guest Concertmaster with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia. Here at home, performing opportunities I have particularly enjoyed have been my work with the San Francisco Opera, the Left Coast Ensemble (formerly known as Sonus Imaginorum), the Clavion Piano Quartet, my summers at the Tanglewood Festival, and, of course, the New Century Chamber Orchestra. I particularly love playing chamber music, and this is one of the reasons why I'm so happy to be a member of the NCCO. |
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