Interview with violinist Rosemary Siemens

Rosemary Siemens is a violinist. She worked with Roy Tan, Eli Bennett, Orlando. She played at New York's Carnegie Hall 4 times and was the first and only violinist ever to play at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica in Rome.

Q. How was your passion for music born?

A. I started playing violin, piano and singing at the age of 3.  I always had a deep love for music and for being on the stage.  I come from a very musical family so I guess you could say it’s in my blood.  Growing up, family gatherings would include about 60 relatives getting together on a Sunday afternoon and singing hymns in 4-part harmony.  As I got older I began to travel, tour and see the world. The fact that I was able to share the gift of music and my passion with others around the world… I was hooked. There is nothing I would rather be doing than music. 

Look at the Gallery: Rosemary Siemens

Q. You play a violin from the 1600s, which was played in the orchestra of King Louis XIV. How did you get it? 

A.  The violin I play is a French violin, made in Paris in 1714.  Yes it played in the orchestra of King Louis XIV.  This violin was purchased in Lausanne Switzerland, in one of the most famous violin shops in the world.  This violin was bought by a dear patron / friend as an investment and so that I could play on an extraordinary violin.  The bow I play is also a treasure and was also bought by a patron so that I could play on the best bows possible.   

Q. You were the first violinist to perform in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. What did you play? 

A. Yes I was the first violinist ever allowed to play at the Sistine Chapel and St Peters Basilica at the Vatican since 1483. It was such an honour.  I played Amazing Grace and Be Thou My Vision at the Sistine Chapel.  The acoustics were incredible, about an 8 second reverberation, I have never heard such a beautiful acoustic in my whole life.   A funny thing that happened since that performance is that two others have claimed to be the first.  The Edge from the band U2 as well as famed soprano Cecilia Bartoli have both claimed to be the first but I have the video of the performance and a scroll from the Vatican to prove I was the first.

Q. What is the song you are most fond of? 

A. My favourite song is probably “I’ll Fly Away”.  I put this song on my album, it is a crowd favorite and it is so much fun to perform. I even had the opportunity to meet the son of the man who composed this song, Jackson Brumley.  I love this song so much, I even used it as a recessional piece at my wedding to walk out to with my husband.  I also had the opportunity to record a video of this with a famous organ player Charles Ritchie, it has more than 1 million views on Facebook.  It is such an uplifting song, it always gets the crowd clapping along, and I end every show with it!  I will have the opportunity to play this song this spring at the famous Grand Ole Opry!This violin was bought by a dear patron / friend as an investment and so that I could play on an extraordinary violin.  The bow I play is also a treasure and was also bought by a patron so that I could play on the best bows possible.  

Q. What do you love most about gospel?

A.  I love how inspirational and uplifting Gospel music is.  There is always a deeper meaning and purpose to the music.  It touches the heart and speaks deeply to people.  

Q. You are from Manitoba. Do you often come back there?

A. I currently live in Vancouver but I am originally a farm girl from a very small town called Plum Coulee, Manitoba.  My town actually put up a sign in my honour that says, “Plum Coulee, Home of Rosemary Siemens”.  The same day the town put up a sign I had a CD release of my debut Country + Bluegrass album “Plum Coulee, My Home” paying tribute to all the beautiful things about small town living.  A year to the date after that CD release I got married in that same town square with a public wedding, hosting over 1500 people.  50,000 watched on Facebook live, we had a cake that was 9x4 for everyone to partake in. 

Q. What is your next project?

A. I am currently writing new music with different song-writers from US/Canada to start recording my second Inspirational Country + Bluegrass album. 

The first album had much success as it won best Country/Gospel album of the year at Canada’s Gospel Music Awards, it won 3 Global Music Awards and was just nominated for 3 of Nashville’s Inspirational Country Music Awards.  I am looking forward to sharing more of my inspirational stories through music in hopes to touch, inspire and make people smile through music.  I am very much looking forward to my debut on Country Music's most famous stage: The Grand Ole Opry.

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