Frédéric Moisan: Languages, Life-balance and Learning the violin

I’m joined by my colleague in Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, violinist Frédéric Moisan. Originally from the Breton town of Saint-Brieuc in France, he immigrated to Finland and then Canada. In this wide-ranging conversation we talked about wind-surfing,family, languages, different cultures’ approaches to education, the challenges of playing the violin, the original version of the Sibelius violin concerto (which was the subject of Fred’s Doctoral Dissertation), life balance, and fly fishing. We talked about the differences between being a freelancer to being an orchestra member; Fred has great advice for colleagues and students preparing auditions, and you can find these various topics in the timestamps. Like all my episodes, this is available as both a video on my YouTube, and a podcast wherever you listen to podcasts; the transcript is also linked on my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/frdric-moisan

Finally, do check out the link to my Ko-fi page in the description, since I really need my listeners’ support to keep this project going!

https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:12) growing up in Brittany, studies in France, the Conservatoire system

(09:52) moving to Finland

(20:45) violin studies with Anne-Marie De Boisgisson, windsurfing, education systems

(29:07) please help me keep this series going: Ko-fi support page linked!

(29:35) Anne-Marie De Boisgisson

(30:26) different education systems Finland, France, Canada

(37:20) Fred’s parents, grandparents, the loss of his mother

(48:05) reflections on parenting and balancing life, bringing up multi-lingual children

(54:25) differences between freelancing and having an orchestra job

(01:00:31) orchestra auditions

(01:05:06) violin practice routines

(01:09:00) Sibelius violin concerto original version

(01:14:50) performing as a soloist with orchestra

(01:17:02) goals and aspirations for music students

(01:24:24) Breton language and culture

(01:27:33) fly-fishing and the benefit of hobbies