Richard O鈥橬eill, the newest member of the College of Music鈥檚 string faculty, has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category, his third nomination since 2005.听
Richard O'Neill, violist with 抖阴旅行射 Boulder's Tak谩cs Quartet.
O鈥橬eill is one of five artists nominated in the category for his performance of Christopher Theofanidis鈥� 听
If O鈥橬eill wins, he鈥檒l be the second person to receive an award for a viola performance in the history of the category.
Prior to joining 抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥檚 internationally renowned Tak谩cs Quartet earlier this year, O鈥橬eill played viola for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City and performed as a soloist with the world鈥檚 top orchestras, including the London, Los Angeles and Seoul philharmonics.听
After hop-scotching the globe, O鈥橬eill found what is likely to be his permanent home at 抖阴旅行射 Boulder.听
鈥淚 can't imagine a more collaborative environment,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淭he musicians I get to work with are such talented and exemplary human beings. I never want to leave.鈥�
The early years听
O鈥橬eill was raised by his grandparents in a small town outside of Seattle, Washington.听
鈥淭hey started me on the violin when I was 5 years old, and they could tell right away that I had perfect pitch,鈥� he said.听
Perfect pitch is a rare ability by a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of a reference tone鈥攁 modern day superpower, if you will.听
His mother was adopted from Korea and moved to the U.S. at a young age. Although she suffers from epilepsy and developmental disabilities, she also has perfect pitch and natural musical ability.听
鈥淪he used to sit down at the piano and play beautifully without any formal training,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 听
Growing up, O鈥橬eill said he often felt isolated and turned to music to cope.听
鈥淢y mom was disabled, and I didn't have a dad around, so I spent a lot of time alone playing and listening to music,鈥� he said.听
O鈥橬eill recalled practicing his violin and listening to the work of Bach, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven before getting on the school bus, when he returned home and into the night.听
鈥溾�楬earing music brought me to a different place. It transported me,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like when you look up at the Flatirons and it takes your breath away. That鈥檚 how I feel when I hear music.鈥�
Although O鈥橬eill鈥檚 musical education began with the violin, he switched to viola when he was 15 after missing the application deadline for a summer violin program. The program director allowed him to attend for free if he played the viola instead.听
O鈥橬eill still plays the program director鈥檚 viola to this day: a reminder of the decision that changed his life.听
Art born from tragedy
O'Neill's Grammy-nominated performance of Theofanidis' Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra
O鈥橬eill, a first-generation college student, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California and moved to New York City in 2001 to attend The Juilliard School for his postgraduate studies.听
On his first day of lessons in Manhattan, the World Trade Center twin towers collapsed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.听
鈥淚鈥檇 go to the subway station and every wall would be covered with posters with photos of people鈥檚 wives, husbands, daughters, asking if anyone has seen them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was heartbreaking.鈥�
O鈥橬eill recalled the bond that formed among New Yorkers after the tragedy, specifically at a vigil at Yankee Stadium. Theofanidis, the composer of O鈥橬eill鈥檚 Grammy-nominated concerto, was also living in Manhattan and watched the vigil on television.听
鈥淎 man went on stage and sang this beautiful tune by himself in the cold northeastern air,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淚t was such a powerful moment for both Chris and myself.鈥澨�
One year later, Theofanidis drew inspiration from the performance at Yankee Stadium to compose the centerpiece of the concerto.
鈥淭he sad thing is, art is often born out of cataclysm, pain and tragedy,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of darkness in the piece but it travels toward light at the end. I鈥檓 so honored to have been chosen to perform it."
Icing on the cake听
O鈥橬eill has walked the red carpet for his two previous Grammy nominations but with the coronavirus pandemic, the in-person ceremony is still up-in-the-air. Even if it is virtual this year, O鈥橬eill isn鈥檛 sure he鈥檒l attend.听
鈥淓very time I鈥檝e walked the red carpet, I鈥檝e lost,鈥� O鈥橬eill said.
If O鈥橬eill does win, he plans to dedicate his award to the musicians across the country who have faced hardship amid the pandemic.
鈥淪o many amazing musicians nationwide are out of work right now, struggling to provide for their families,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his nomination is for them鈥攊t鈥檚 for us.鈥�
It鈥檚 been a tough year for O鈥橬eill personally as well. His mother finished cancer treatments in February. During her battle, O鈥橬eill promised himself he would focus on what鈥檚 really important going forward.
鈥淎n award is one thing, acknowledgement from peers is another. But at the end of the day, waking up with your health and your family is all that matters,鈥� he said. 鈥淓verything else is icing.鈥澨�
Tune into the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 31, 2021 to find out if O鈥橬eill will win his first Grammy.听
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