About Us: Meet the Musicians

Paul Malcolm began studying viola at the age of nine in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas. He also attended college there and received a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University when he was 21 years old. Two weeks after graduating he was playing in the North Carolina Symphony.

Besides playing viola in The North Carolina Symphony, Paul has been a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra where he was assistant principal viola for four years. He also performs regularly in the Peace College/North Carolina Symphony Chamber Music Series. As a member of The International Trio, Paul has played music for weddings and receptions since 1983.

His teachers include Hugh Partridge, Kato Havas, Lillian Fuchs, and Heitchero Ohyama. Paul’s family also shares his musical interest. His wife Lisa is a violinist and private music teacher, and each of his four daughters has studied piano.

How did you choose your instrument?
My sister already played the violin, so I was given a viola instead. I am happy as a violist.

What are three of your favorite movies?
Godzilla, Batman Begins, Star Trek, Night At The Museum (I know that’s four!)

What’s your favorite spot for a post-concert drink or bite to eat?
Home.

What do you think is the greatest misconception about classical music?
That you have to like every bit of it to be sophisticated.

What is your idea of a perfect day?
I would love to share the day with my wife of 33 years. It would begin by waking up in the mountains of NC to catch the sunrise (with my camera of course); spend the day hiking and taking pictures of scenic locations; picnic lunch on the Blue Ridge Parkway; catch a thrift store somewhere along the way; then, magically end up at the beach (Carolina Beach or Fort Fisher) to catch the sunset, and to see the moon rising over the ocean (all the while taking pictures); dinner at Michael’s Seafood for their world famous clam chowder, which my wife loves; then, magically arrive home without the two hour drive; and hopefully, all this without a migraine headache or being exhausted.

What famous figure, living or dead, would you most like to invite to dinner, and why?
Moses or the Apostle Paul. I have a lot of questions!

What is your fantasy career?
I don’t have one. I love music and I love my job. I also love photography, but I don’t think I would want to do that as a career.

Other than performances with the North Carolina Symphony, where can we catch you performing around town?
Perhaps at a wedding. My wife and I even played at our daughter’s wedding! There was some intense choreography involved with that.

What is your favorite North Carolina Symphony moment?
There is not one moment, but many great performances with world class artists: Andre Watts, Joshua Bell, Yo Yo Ma, Lang Lang, Victor Borge, Gil Shaham, and many more. I guess if you pressed me, I would have to say, “Pops in the dark” was memorable.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Photography, or listening to the Bach Goldberg Variations.

What is always in your kitchen?
Cookies, preferably homemade, but store bought if there is nothing else, and bread.

What is the best thing about being a musician? The worst?
The irregular schedule and the irregular schedule!

What was the first piece of music you fell in love with?
It would have to have been something by J. S. Bach.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Spending too much time on Flickr- an online photo sharing site. (Here comes the shameless plug; the name of my photostream is FiddleFlix)

Who is your personal Yoda?
If it doesn’t sound sacrilegious, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you collect anything? If so, tell us about it.
I seem to have a collection of black bags and cases, black shoes, black jackets and white shirts!