CSO Violinist Olga Kaler adorns her case with a cat photo gifted by her husband Ilya, also a longtime CSO violinist, alongside pictures of deer that she has had since childhood. The critically-acclaimed duo have deep roots on the Chautauqua grounds and have performed for symphonies across the world. Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Violinist Amanda Gates keeps pictures of her sons Blake Armstrong, right, and Byron Armstrong, left, alongside a decorative unicorn card — and a description of the Nutcracker going into battle, gifted from colleagues of her previous orchestra — in her case. The unicorn, Amanda’s favorite mythical creature, was a gift from her late father, Jesse Gates, who passed a day after Amanda first arrived at Chautauqua. Her youngest son Blake has also become a violinist, and is now an undergraduate student of fellow violinist Olga Kaler at the Cleveland Institute of Music. CSO Bassoonist Elise Wagner keeps a variety of tools and keepsakes in her case for every need that may arise. Pliers, screwdrivers, picks and pencils are all part of keeping the bassoon in top shape for when it’s time to perform. Elise always keeps a small metronome on hand, along with a pack of Starburst, for rehearsal before showtime. A series of specially designed reeds in the top right of the case help control the tone, pitch and playability of the instrument. Stickers wrap the perimeter of her case, listing every orchestra and school Elise has played for. Sharon Roffman, the CSO’s recently named Mischakoff Taylor Concertmaster Chair, carries small keepsakes and gifts with her as she performs across the world. Sharon, who taught music through her nonprofit Class Notes, keeps a worn paper game she used to teach students from 10 years ago. “When everybody’s playing at the same volume at the same time, its just a cacophony of noise,” she said. “When you understand the parts you need to hear, the right things come out.”
Alongside the paper game, Sharon keeps gifts from friends and loved ones — such as a porcelain bear, a rock fish, a massage ball and a necklace given to her by Damon Dash, cofounder of Roc-A-Fella Records, after his visit to Africa years ago.
