Violinist Rhiannon Banerdt is a familiar presence on the Cape Symphony stage: she’s been our Assistant Concertmaster since 2015. She’s also a highly accomplished chamber musician and founding member of the award-winning Ulysses Quartet, a faculty member at Bloomingdale School of Music, an avid sci-fi fan, and an enthusiastic cook.
Rhiannon came to Cape Symphony after working with Community MusicWorks in Providence, Rhode Island. “I took the audition, got the job, and promptly moved to New York,” she laughs. “But it still works!”
Her fellow musicians keep her coming back. “We’ve done a lot of really interesting things,” she says of performances over the years. “I remember a Pops program with a really nice sax solo, and someone said they’d give [saxophonist] Nick Suchecki $20 if he could work a bit of “Careless Whisper” into it. He did! It was great! I love that story because it shows the really fun spirit of Cape Symphony. The musicians are genuinely involved in the music and there’s great camaraderie.”
In that spirit, you may remember Rhiannon’s hair in Princess Leia buns when the orchestra took the stage for “Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert” in July 2023. Any chance of a repeat for “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert” this summer? “Well, there are different Leia hairstyles…” she says. “The hair is harder than it looks!” We shall stay tuned.
Reflecting on the wide array of activities in her professional life, Rhiannon says, “I really like the variety. It keeps me engaged in all the things I do. There is no typical week, or even month.” Much of her time is spent practicing, rehearsing and performing with the acclaimed Ulysses Quartet, which has recently partnered with GBH Music as their first-ever quartet in residence.
Outside work, Rhiannon says “I’m a big sci-fi nerd! My husband and I love watching and reading sci-fi. I also love being outside. One of the things I love to do on Cape Cod is to find a beautiful trail for a run. I also lift weights, which has been really important for keeping my body healthy, with an erratic schedule and so much travel.” She also loves to cook. “It’s very meditative to chop vegetables and turn my brain off for a while.”
The Banerdts are a talented family; Rhiannon’s sister Bronwyn is a cellist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “Our parents love music, but came from a small town without much opportunity to learn it. It was important to them that we did have that opportunity.” Rhiannon has earned Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance from CUNY Graduate Center. Her parents have lately taken up cello and piano themselves, cheered on by their grown children.
Rhiannon encourages everyone to keep music in their lives. “I often meet people after concerts who tell me they wish they hadn’t given up their instruments,” she says. “I always say ‘that’s not permanent!’ Pick up an instrument at any age. Music can always be a beautiful part of your life.” We couldn’t agree more.
