Julie Christine Aiken, Violinist

From her beginnings as a small Suzuki student in St. Paul, Minnesota, the beauty and expressive power of a singing violin tone has fascinated Julie. She has fond memories growing up in the Augsburg College Suzuki Talent Education Program, including lessons with Nancy Lokken and Jan Chong. As concertmaster of Minnesota Youth Symphonies and Minnesota All State Orchestra as well as MYS Concerto Competition Winner, she refined her skills as a leader with remarkable sensitivity toward her fellow musicians. Julie received her B.M. in violin performance from Vanderbilt University, Blair School of Music in the studio of Christian Teal. During her time in Nashville, Tennessee, she nurtured her love of baroque period performance as violinist in Music City Baroque Orchestra, toured Asia with the Vanderbilt University Orchestra, and performed in masterclasses with notable musicians such as James Buswell, Monica Huggett, Stephen Clapp, Edgar Meyer, Robert Mealy, Kathryn Lucktenburg, and Jorja Fleezanis. She has also enjoyed teaching private violin lessons through the Falcon Heights School of Violin and as a volunteer at W.O. Smith Music School (serving low-income children). Julie currently studies violin with Barbara Gorzynska in Vienna, Austria, while training in the Alexander Technique Teacher Trainer Centre with Michael Parkinson. Shaped by her teachers and the Alexander Technique, a desire for resonance, captivating sincerity, and freedom characterizes her musicianship.