From an interview with Charise, host of Spotlight Monday Night, Spirit FM, Portland:
Q: Is there a story behind your violin?
A: There is a story behind my violin! When I was in my sophomore year of college, my grandma and I were planning to go to Sweden together. She was looking forward to seeing her family over there for the first time, and to visiting all the places she’d heard about with me. A couple of months before we were to go, she was run over by a bus that had come to pick her up. The bus had been placed in neutral, “parked” on the wrong side of the street in the middle of a construction zone, and left running. As grandma stepped down into the street to go around the front of it and get in, the bus started moving, ran her over, went all the way down the street and hit a tree. Grandma died within a few hours, and we were overwhelmed with grief and loss, and the harshness of it all. But God made something good come out of that horrible circumstance! The city immediately gave my mother insurance money, and my parents decided to purchase a violin for me as a living memorial of my grandma. I had just hit the point where my $40 violin from a shirttail relative was not able to compete in the world of auditions and concerts, so it was a real blessing, a real Romans 8:28. It’s been one of those Stones of Remembrance that I’ve always been able to look back on, to hold on to in the really rough times, to prove that God can bring good out of ANY situation, no matter how impossible or awful things are at the moment. By the way, my family went to Sweden together in her place, and we got to meet everyone, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. I’m mostly Swedish, with a little Norwegian and Danish thrown in there. Apparently I’m related to one of the Kings of Denmark, so I can’t leave out the Danish! (laugh)
Q: So what kind of instrument do you play on? You said it was old.
A: My acoustic violin was made in Amsterdam, Holland. Not exactly Scandinavian, but almost! My maker studied violin making from the “Father of Violinmaking” – Niccoli Amati. In fact, he even married one of his daughters! I won’t say how old my instrument is, but suffice it to say that it’s older than America, and most likely premiered music by J.S. Bach and George Fredrick Handel. Isn’t that amazing?! I never get over that! In addition to my acoustic violin, I also have a new electric violin - a Fusion violin by Design & Harmonie. It's got an awesome sound and is a blast to play - I love it!
Q: What are some of your favorite places that you’ve played?
A: When I toured Scandinavia, I had the opportunity to play in some of the oldest, most amazing churches. Places that had the most incredible paintings and carvings inside. I’ll never forget that! Playing regularly in Orchestra Hall in Chicago was wonderful, too. The most amazing church was in Minneapolis, First Covenant Church. You had to climb up a long stairs to get to the platform, and the whole church was in the round – it was huge! It felt like I was floating in the clouds when I played.
Q: On a more serious note, when did you first feel called to ministry?
A: My parents tell me that I was singing even before I was talking, and that makes sense, because it’s always been easier for me to express things through music. I played and sang at church from the time I was 5 years old, and I started arranging hymns for myself to share on violin at church when I was 14, as I wanted to be able to give my best to the Lord. I was studying to be a concert violinist from the time I was young, with a master teacher in downtown Seattle, but above all I loved to feel God’s presence when I played for Him – kind of like Chariots of Fire! When I was about 18, I was sitting in a service, and my pastor shared the story about the talents. Now I know that the story is referring to money, but it really means all that we’ve been given. I’ve been given the gift of music and speaking, and I felt a strong call at that time that somehow, someway, I was supposed to use my music full-time to minister to people. When I went to college, there was no major for worship leaders, so I followed as God lead and got a degree in Violin performance, and then a Master of Music in violin performance so that I could be the best that I could be, wherever God would lead. I was then called to use my gifts as a Minister of Music in church planting, leading worship and developing a program for a church plant in Columbus, Ohio. I’ve been in music ministry ever since! And that’s been almost 20 years! And lots of different kinds of situations, in many different places. I love being able to use creativity to bring together the old and the new, the ancient and modern. When we use things from our roots, our history in new ways, the story becomes more real, more powerful, and touches even more hearts more deeply. I am so thankful for all the opportunities that God has given me to minister to people, and not just in music.
Q: What are you doing right now?
A: I’m using my gifts to encourage God’s people. Sometimes that means leading worship for large conferences, sometimes it’s playing a large concert, sometimes it’s playing for a church, and sometimes it’s ministering to the older generation in a retirement community. For the past five years it’s meant being the Minister of Worship and Arts for a church plant in Maple Valley, WA. I’m currently doing concerts and events throughout the Pacific Northwest, and I have an awesome ministry team that goes out with me. I am also serving as a consultant for church plants, helping them to develop their music and arts ministries, to develop their ministry teams, and to help them develop their mission and vision. Currently I’m working with Mosaic Covenant Church in Hillsboro, Oregon. It’s a bit of a commute, but it gives me lots of time to talk with God and listen! I’m also teaching violin, viola and piano; training up the next generation is very important to me!
Q: What was your favorite place you’ve taught?
A: There have been lots of places, so that’s a hard one. The two top places would have to be Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and the Merit Music Conservatory in Chicago. At Merit, I not only got to teach some great students, but I also had the opportunity to be part of their in schools program which reached out to less fortunate kids who lived in the projects. Going to elementary schools that had no door handles, had regular gang clashes outside, and constant police inside was eye-opening and heart-opening. I truly cared about those kids, about their very existence. One was chased at knife-point all the way home. A 5th grader!! Pray for the inner city kids, and for those who are there to make a difference.
Q: One last thing. What are two words of advice that you give your students?
A: Play from your heart!! Always remember it’s about the music, it’s about the message, not about you. You need to involve your whole self, your whole body to express things through your instrument, move with the music. This also helps you to not have injury from playing! Close your eyes, and think of the words if there are words. Practice putting on your performing self, if you have trouble moving – remember, your audience will experience the music through SEEING you as well as hearing you. Let them SEE how the music feels.
Also, ALWAYS think positive thoughts!! NEVER say anything negative about your playing. Practice positive thoughts and sayings, and you will become what you think.
And, give your BEST to the Lord. Remember, serving Him is the highest calling. Whatever you do, remember that you and your instrument are in the service of the King, and that’s the highest calling!
