Welcome to "Meet the Musician," a behind-the-scenes blog series getting to know the Houston Symphony's exceptional musicians.
In this series, we take you up close and personal with the artists who sit on stage at Jones Hall every weekend. Read on to learn more about the inspirations, challenges, and musical passions that drive these remarkable artists. And, of course, you'll learn some fun facts along the way!
Dive in and help us celebrate the diverse stories and experiences that make each musician an integral part of our symphonic family.
Name: James Cunningham
Position: Section Viola
Hometown: Pittsburg, PA
Tell us a little about yourself:
Hi Houston! I moved to town last year to study at Rice University, and quickly fell in love with this city and this Symphony. In my free time I’m making espresso and exploring by bike when it’s not too hot. I’m so excited to make music for you!
How long have you been playing your instrument, and what do you love the most about it?
I started playing violin at age four, and viola at age 12 when I joined my first youth orchestra. I grew up in Pittsburgh and was fortunate to have many wonderful musicians as friends—we were always playing chamber music, and it made us all better musicians, and that’s still one of my favorite parts of playing viola!
How did you get started playing your instrument?
I became fascinated with string instruments when I was very young, after seeing Hillary Hahn play on Mister Rogers Neighborhood - apparently I wore out the VCR tape of that program from watching it so many times. So my parents enrolled me in Suzuki violin lessons when I turned 4, but when I tried playing viola in orchestra and chamber music in middle school, I realized I love being a “middle voice” and playing more of a supporting role, so I stuck with viola
What concert are you looking forward to performing in the most this season or next season?
Although it’s hard to pick just one of the amazing programs we have in store this season, I’m really looking forward to Don Quixote with Maestro Runnicles during the first weekend of November, featuring our own Principal Cello Brinton Averil Smith (as the Man of La Mancha) and Principal Viola Joan DerHovsepian (as trusty sidekick Sancho Panza)! The first half includes the fantastic overture from Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser, and whimsical moments from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. You won’t want to miss it!
What is your favorite piece of music?
Impossible to choose a favorite, but working on Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F inspired my love of chamber music when I first started playing viola, and it’s a piece I will enjoy coming back to forever. It’s full of lush harmonies, and the second movement has some exciting pizzicato dance sections which are fun to play.
Outside of classical music, what genre of music is your favorite?
I grew up listening to my dad’s collection of classic jazz albums, and these days I listen to a lot of fusion jazz; but I always appreciate music recommendations, and I’m listening to something new every day!
What do you love the most about Houston?
I love how multicultural Houston is! I am meeting new people from different communities constantly, and this also means our city is full of amazing food, art, and entertainment! It’s such a great place to live.
What’s a fun fact about you that you would like our patrons to know?
I am the only musician in my immediate family, but my father is a longtime classical radio DJ; and when I was just two years old, instead of singing nursery rhymes, my mom caught me humming Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony while playing with my toy cars.
If you could choose any three people, living or deceased, to have dinner with who would they be?
The first would definitely be fellow Pittsburgher Mr. Rogers, who is an example of the type of person I’d like to be; kind and compassionate, and a great leader. I would also like to meet Johannes Brahms, partially to clarify some of the questions I have about his clarinet/viola sonatas. And, if you ever read this Yo-Yo, I’d love to have dinner sometime!
