About Us

Marywynn Kuwashima

Viola

Marywynn kuwashima

Joined the SSO: September 1975

Born: Clearfield, PA

Residence: DeWitt, NY

Education: B.M. Oberlin Conservatory of Music; M.M. in Viola Performance, The Manhattan School of Music.

Earliest musical memory: Hearing violin music created in me a desire to play violin.

Most influential teachers: William Berman, Dr. Kurt Frederick, Lillian Fuchs, Leonard Davis.

Favorite composer/musical period/musical work: J.S. Bach/the Baroque/The Goldberg Variations (Bach) performed by Glenn Gould.

Favorite aspect of the performance experience: Performing the great masterworks.

Favorite part of being a member of the SSO: Performing with interesting artists.

When I'm not onstage, you might find me: Teaching privately (violin and viola), walking my dogs (a pug and a shih tzu), reading, watching my favorite videos, working out (yoga and Pilates).

My favorite thing about Central New York is: The change in seasons, and not being too far from New York City.

More about me: My daughter is a freelance writer, currently residing in California. I studied fashion illustration at the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York City between my freshman and sophomore years at Oberlin. Having started drawing as a child, later working in oils, I found it difficult to decide between art and music. One day, I may return to painting.