Rising star

at the age of 18, hilary hahn has the focus and self-possession to promise a bright career as an international soloist.

hilary hahn is one of the best young solo violinists to emerge in the world of classical music. with tied-back hair and china-doll features, hilary seems much younger than her years, but in fact she is quite mature enough to face up to the competitive demands of the concert hall.

brought up in the us city of baltimore, hilary first reached for the violin when she was three. shortly before her fourth birthday, she joined a class of pre-school children all keen to learn to play the instrument. she quickly gained an understanding of her own progress. ‘there were always children ahead of me and children behind me, so it helped to see that with time and practice, i could really become a better player,’ she recalls. it wasn’t long before she was making her first public performance and winning her first competition. then, at the age of just ten, she got a place at the prestigious curtis institute of music in philadelphia.

now, when she is not touring, hilary’s time is divided between her family home in baltimore and her flat near the curtis institute’s classrooms in philadelphia. she spends much of her time with her father, who has joined her in philadelphia to take on the role of full-time assistant and touring companion. her mother, anne, lives and works as a tax accountant in baltimore. although both parents share a casual interest in music, neither could have anticipated the outcome of hilary’s brilliant playing. ‘dad keeps me company, goes out, gets food and answers the phone when i’m practising; says hilary.

there is always the danger that such prodigious talent can fall into the wrong hands. but hilary has been lucky enough to gain further support from the team of teachers and colleagues who surround her. david zinman, a violinist with the baltimore orchestra, first heard hilary when she was rehearsing for a competition at the baltimore symphony hall. since then he has monitored her progress, helping her in the transition from enthusiast to professional. together with her teachers, david has kept a watchful eye on her progress.

david advised hilary not to commit herself to too many concerts too soon. ‘he always told me to keep performing, but not to make it my whole life,’ she recalls. although hilary spends up to six hours a day in the curtis institute’s practice rooms, she is keen to maintain a life beyond her studies. ‘some people could say i do nothing other than study music, that i haven’t had much of a life. but that’s not true because i’ve always had a lot of friends, and still have some very good ones actually. some kids focus on sports, some on academic study and i’m the same, except that my focus is on music’

as hilary recounts her childhood, you can't help feeling that even she is surprised by her success. the last seven years have gone like a blur, i feel like i’ve just been carried along by it all.’ she has shown, however, that she is more than capable of making her own decisions about what music she plays. on her highly praised first recording, released last year, she played a selection of bach sonatas which are difficult enough to challenge people twice her age.

but hilary is in no hurry to take to the road full-time. although the world of international concert tours is available to her, she will for the moment continue with her studies in philadelphia and look forward to each new performance that comes her way. ‘staying at school gives me the time to think,’ says hahn. she is determined not to burn out before reaching musical maturity as so many child prodigies do. ‘i want to continue doing the same as i have done up until now. i’ve achieved a lot already, but there is so-much that i have yet to do.’

1. when hilary first went to violin lessons she was …

a aware of how good she, was.

b jealous of more able; children.

c impatient with less able children.

d worried about her rate of progress.

2. how do hilary’s parents feel about her success?

a they are not; really interested in it.

b it is the fulfilment of their dreams.

c they regret the disruption to their lives.

d it took them very much by surprise.

3. david zinman first recognised hilary’s talent when she …

a was playing in an orchestra.

b was taking part in a competition.

c was practising for a performance.

d was having a violin lesson.

4. what does the expression ‘watchful eye’ in the text tell us about david’s attitude to hilary?

a he doesn't trust her.

b he wants to help her.

c he is ambitious for her.

d he is aware of her weaknesses.

5. how does hilary feel about her way of life?

a she’d like to see more of her friends.

b she’d like to develop other interests.

c she thinks she’s similar to other teenagers.

d she thinks she’s spent too long studying music.