Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Emmaly Basaraba was three-years-old when she discovered that she wanted to learn how to play the violin; “I remember going to the living room and on TV there was a man playing violin and I was like ‘I want to do that.’” Five years later, her parents offered to get her lessons. On May 3, the Bachelor of Music major walked on to the Smith Hall stage to perform her junior music recital.

The recital, titled “Ain’t Misbehavin’” after one of the songs that Basaraba performed, featured jazz music from the ‘20s and ‘30s.

Music students Noah Adams and Justin Kayler accompanied Basaraba on the drums and bass, respectively. Her brother, Wyatt Basaraba, played both the guitar and tenor banjo. Between songs, Basaraba pointed out that certain selections — namely, “Georgia on My Mind” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’” — were chosen because of her association between the songs and her late music teacher, Gene Hall.

She chose the title of her show because of how it represented the era of music she was focusing on in the set, as well as her memory of Hall playing it; “I felt it captured the essence of the time period that I was going for — jazz music from the ‘20s and ‘30s …  I have a lot of fond memories of Gene playing it with his granddaughter, because she would sing it while he would play it. I thought it just captured the essence of the era.”

A Polk County local, Basaraba was raised in Dallas, where she and her brother were homeschooled.

Music is more than just a degree or a pastime for the violinist. Rather, it’s part of her identity.

“Music is kind of the central part of who I am as a person … I love doing a lot of different things for fun but music is my escape,” she said. “Whether it’s listening to or playing music, it’s what I do to feel whole and to express myself.”

For Basaraba, this love of music comes from Hall. The instructor taught both her and her brother music from the time she was eight until he passed away when she was sixteen.

“It’s hard to find a starting point. He was my teacher, but he was a lot more than that. He was kind of a grandpa figure to me,” she said. “Not only was I learning how to play music from him … but he would be interested in what was going on in our lives … he was the person who really impacted me and kind of instilled music into my soul … it’s Gene’s fault that music is what I live and breathe.”

“When I’m performing especially, that’s where I feel the most open with my music. I’ve been performing for a long time … I don’t really get stage fright,” Basaraba’s love of performing stems, in part, from Hall as well — he would invite her and her brother to play gigs with him.

“I really feed off of being in front of a crowd and showing them what I’ve got,” Basaraba noted.

Hall is one of the the biggest musical inspirations in Basabara’s life. In addition to him, she also finds inspiration from her current music teacher: “Christopher Woitach — he’s really inspired me too,” she said. “Then there’s like greats like Stephane Grappelli and Joe Venuti.”

When she isn’t playing music, Basaraba works on campus at the Wolfstore, watches “The Office” and looks after her two guinea pigs — Wilbur and Orville. But music remains her primary passion.

“Music is my hobby and the thing I study and the thing I love to do,” Basaraba said. “It’s hard to think of other things I love as much as music — both listening and playing.”

The recital ended with “Five Foot Two” by Ray Henderson. As the lights came up, Basaraba’s brother got up and gave his sister a hug.

It’s clear that Basaraba’s own experience as a music student has made a lasting impact.

“My dream would be to have a private studio to teach out of. I love teaching private lessons, I have a few students right now,” she commented. “To be honest, I don’t have a set plan of what I want to do, but I’m very open to whatever comes my way. I’m excited for what the future has.”

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis