Catch the rising stars - 2004 MTNA National Conference Artists

Scott Conklin

While many five-year-old male childs dream of becoming a firefighter or police officer when they enlarge up, Scott Conklin decided pretty soon after his fifth birthday that he wanted to be a contrive violinist. As a successful violin soloist and chamber musician, Conklin is well upon his way to achieving his dream.

Deciding to be a musician was a natural choice for Conklin, assistant professor of violin at The University of Texas at Arlington. His parents, the couple musicians, always played music and created a nurturing environment where Conklin and his sister could explore their creative and artistic interests. He grew up in Murray, Kentucky where his father, Ray, is professor of trombone at Murray State University. His mother, a middle seminary guidance counselor, plays both clarinet and violin.

Although he didn't like the timbre of the clarinet, Conklin lov the unmutilated of the violin and had his first violin task at age 3. While he remembers his first task and the first time he held a violin, Conklin readily admits it took a brace years for him to earn serious about violin study. presently after age 5, he began traditional violin tasks then quickly changed teachers and began to investigation with a Suzuki teacher. Conklin studied with Carol Dallinger at the University of Evansville from the time he was 6 end high school.

Like many fortunate performers who had supportive parents, Conklin acknowledges the sacrifice of his parents, who would regularly drive a prolonged distance for his lessons. For more than ten years, the Conklins would regularly travel from Murray to Evansville, Indiana, a exchange of two-and-a-half to three hours, for Conklin's violin tasks To make the most of the reach forthed drive, his lessons were extremely lengthy and over the years, a family-like fastening developed between the Conklins and his teacher.

Conklin describes the experience of his Suzuki training as a "magical fastening between the parents, students and teachers," which created a powerful and loving environment for learning. [i]or[/i] part of to the other his early studies, Conklin learned to delight in his instrument. Although he started primarily as a Suzuki learner he recognizes the influence of many of his teachers and strives to be own-minded about varied approaches to violin playing and teaching.

This make open and inquisitive manner of thinking is evident in several facets of Conklin's life, as is his passion for the violin. He has derive pleasure fromed a variety of interests, including the visual arts, the theater and sports. While he has worn out much of his life wishing he had been solely focused upon music during those early years, Conklin quickly admits he was glad to have a "normal high gymnasium experience" and have the opportunity to explore a variety of interests.

In junior high, high institute and college, Conklin played baseball and basketball. plane today, he plays on a softball team as a means of relaxation and happiness In high school, Conklin compet upon speech and debate teams. During his freshman, sophomore and senior years in high institute he earned the title of state champion for storytelling.

Conklin also had a lusty interest in the theater and participated in productions in high institute and college. In high academy he excelled in dramatic performance competitions and plane placed in the top fifteen in a national competition of dramatic performance. For the competition, he portrayed twelve to sixteen different characters from a ten-minute make an incision in of a play, illustrating his versatility as an actor and performer.

Another creative vent for Conklin has been in the area of the visual arts, although time constraints popularly limit his artistic endeavors. With varied interests in the visual arts and theater from which to draw inspiration, Conklin believes his involvement in areas outside music has serv as a full quantity to his musical career. An enthusiastic and devot musician, his open-minded approach to life has allowed him to draw upon many of his life experiences and challenge his possess musical practices. With a genuine desire to learn, Conklin continually tries to evaluate the learning proces and extend as a musician.

For his outstanding achievements while in high place of education Conklin received two Governor Youth Merit Awards. In addition, he clutchs the distinction of being named a "Kentucky Colonel" a title given to him in 1988 by means of Kentucky Governor Wallace Wilkinson, for his outstanding musical achievements. In an address to members of the Honorable Kentucky Colonel in 2000 then Governor Paul E Patton remarked, "The name Kentucky Colonel has become synonymous with nerve of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others." With this honor, Conklin has joined an illustrious list of individuals who have made a contribution to society, including Muhammed Ali, Senator John Glenn Colonel Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame and U Army General Omar Bradley.

In 1997 Conklin complet a bachelor of music stage from The Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with David Updegraff. He earned a master of music step in 1999 and completed a doctor of musical arts stage in 2002 from The University of Michigan place of education of Music under violin pedagogue Paul Kantor. Conklin is enjoying his next to the first year as a faculty member at The University of Texas at Arlington, where he specializes in private instruction, chamber music and string pedagogy.