Karen Boyaris

Orchestra Member

Instrument

Violin I

Year Joined

1983

Most memorable performance with the ESO

My most memorable performance was when I was the concertmaster substitute for a 1986 concert where Prokofiev’s 5th Symphony was one of the pieces and I had a solo at the end of the last movement. I was concerned that I would miscount the repetitions and not end with the rest of the orchestra, but fortunately, we all ended together. That concert was special, too, because it was dedicated to Frank Miller.

Favorite ESO soloist

Violinist Irina Muresanu

Why I like playing with the ESO

It is mentally (and physically) challenging and a great release from the stressful and often mundane world of tax accounting. Last but not least, the people are great.

Favorite composer or piece

Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 — I really started appreciating that piece after practicing it numerous times in preparation for the concert mentioned above.

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

Working as a senior manager in tax at KPMG consumes much of my time, but I also enjoy hanging out with my family — husband, Jim, Peter (16), and Jose (11), and reading (usually American history).

Something most people don’t know about me

After our 40th birthdays, my husband and I adopted Peter and Jose from Russia and Guatemala. Needless to say, we get asked quite frequently if they are brothers and if they are our grandchildren. We are by far the oldest parents at school meetings.