Kendall Dowsett

Orchestra Member

Instrument

Cello

Year Joined

2010

Most memorable performance with the ESO

I am such a fan of Gershwin, and especially his Rhapsody in Blue! Plus having Maestro Eckerling on the piano made the performance doubly fun.

Favorite ESO soloist

I don’t think I can pick just one…every artist we perform with brings something new to the experience. I do always enjoy playing with the pianists, though.

Why I like playing with the ESO

Where to begin? First of all, it’s an honor to play with people who are so dedicated to the music and volunteer their time each week to come together and create something very special for the community. The music is always challenging, so there’s an additional commitment to out-of-rehearsal practice, but that’s another reason why I love playing with the ESO—the music is always challenging, and helps me to grow as a musician.

Favorite composer or piece

Like I said, I love Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.  But I am also a fan of all things Beethoven, all things Bach, and Rachmaninov’s piano concertos are among my absolute favorites. I once had the pleasure of performing Smetana’s Moldau near the river itself in Prague, and Handel’s “Messiah” in a small village on our way to Vienna, so these pieces hold a special place in my heart.

When I’m not playing with the ESO, I’m…

Teaching my 22 adorable second graders in Albany Park, hanging out with my fiancé and our two dogs in our Lakeview apartment, or exploring Chicago’s best restaurants, bars, and cafes with my awesome friends.

Something most people don’t know about me

I have a lifelong goal to visit a new country every year. I was bit by the travel bug senior year of high school and since then I’ve been to Canada, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, Mexico, Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain, Slovakia, France, Switzerland, Wales, the Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Morocco, Germany, Finland, Russia, Poland, and multiple stays in Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and Austria.