Laura Reid Q&A

By Ado Nkemka

Photo credit Kaiden Jackman

Read this short Q&A Ahead of field studies / VINES February 1st at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. Find tickets to the event here.

Laura Reid

1. What do you find exciting about the violin?

I love the simplicity and immediacy of an acoustic instrument, and the sonically and practical flexibility of the violin.  Although my technique is grounded in Western classical music the violin can be integrated into many genres and I've so valued being able to connect with different artists through music making.

2. What instrument would you play if it wasn’t for the violin? Why?

Piano! I play a bit but would love to improve. It's versatile in genre, era, solo or ensemble playing, with harmonic and melodic richness. It would also open a world of acoustic and electronic instruments - harpsichord! clavichord! organ! synth!

3. What venue (of any size of form) have you not had the chance to play that you’d like to play one day?

Regardless of my opinions about the beauty, acoustics, or vibe of a space, no venue is perfect for all purposes. I played a David Bowie tribute show at the Palomino that is a cherished memory but attempting to play ambient music in the same space was pretty discouraging. What makes for artistically meaningful experiences are often details or circumstances that could not be engineered or expected.  It's the magic of live performance - allow for open expectations!

4. You formed “Who Cares” with Jia Jia Li, in part to find new ways to present classical and contemporary music. Have you achieved that goal, if so, how?

I think the "finding" has and continues to happen for this project more than an end goal to be reached.  We have explored approaches that are less conventional for instrumental music like music video, cassette recording, collective arrangements, incorporating improvisation.  We focus on process and ongoing reflections on communal curiosities.  

5. Random & unlikely dilemma: You’re tasked with putting together an ensemble to bring a bed of wilting flowers back to life, who is in your ensemble and what is it called?

Ooh what a dreamy task! The idea of a gentle revival of nature would require soulful players and sounds that evoke mystic connection with potential for peaceful interplay.  I would ask Elinor Frey, Montreal-based cellist and gamba player to collaborate with Laraaji, new age sonic pioneer/zither player and pull from language connected to their work and call their duo Celestrana Continuo.

6. Can you share an image that represents the favorite part of your practice as a musician? Why?

I've shared an image of a rehearsal with colleagues Kathleen de Caen and Akiko Tominaga from 2020, this was preparation for a series of performances we were doing as Trio Nobara.  What this represents to me is the exchange and connection not just through music but about and around music: discussion, translating abstract ideas into words and the compromise of collaborative interpretation, and the human care and connection made possible by a musical connection.

Photo credit Lisa Buck

7. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to the February 1st concert?

I'm looking forward to the intra-Albertan multi-disciplinary collaborations!  Meeting new colleagues and witnessing how the interactions between sound and movement unfurl, experiencing the simultaneous presentation as both performer and part of the collective experience. 

Laura Reid bio:

Classically trained violinist Laura Reid is a versatile and active member of Calgary's music community, having contributed to countless performances and collaborative artistic work in the city. Ongoing music projects include Osmanthus (electroacoustic duo with Kris Sujata) and Who Cares, a friendship-music duo with flautist Jiajia Li. She balances creative practice and academic work, achieving a Master of Information from the University of Toronto in 2023 and currently working at University of Calgary's Libraries and Cultural Resources.