Meet Erin Rafferty, violist

Erin Rafferty, violist.

Erin Rafferty’s love for music started as a toddler. By the age of four, she was performing in an opera. Her musical adventures have taken her to seven countries. This fall, she earned a seat with the ESO as a violist, an instrument she has played for 25 years. Erin also holds a section position on the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and serves as principal viola of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.

Here are a few more fun facts about Erin:

Do you play any other instruments?

I started on piano, played French horn in middle school, have sung in many operas, and am proficient on violin—but I only consider myself a violist!

What is your favorite piece to play?

I find big, bombastic symphonic works to be the most fun. For example, the first major work I played with the ESO, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade!

What do you like most about playing in front of a live audience?

It’s a completely different experience to playing alone or without an audience—you can feel that the energy you’re offering is being received and experienced reciprocally.