Fran Zirbel-Foley

Orchestra Member

Instrument

Violin II

Year Joined

1989

Most memorable performance with the ESO

March 17, 1989, playing the Sibelius 2nd Symphony and Dvořák Violin Concerto. Before this concert, I had never heard this concerto. When I hear it now, it always takes me back to this time in my life. It was my first concert with the ESO and I had a date afterwards with a handsome red-haired guy in the cello section.

Favorite ESO soloist

Julian Arron

Why I like playing with the ESO

I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to play such great music with great musicians.

Favorite composer or piece

My favorite pieces are the ones that I have never heard before the rehearsals, and then become favorites after the concert. Schubert’s 9th Symphony and Dvořák’s Violin concerto.

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

I married that handsome red-haired cello player, Jay Foley, and we have three boys, Quinn, 18, Evan, 16 and Glenn, 12. We all like music, camping, traveling and baseball.

Something most people don’t know about me

Jay and I are Weird Al groupies; I think we’ve been to about 8-9 of his concerts.