Rodion Belousov
Upbringing/Roots/Family
I grew up in a very musical family, music has been around me from a very young age. Even though my parents aren’t musicians, they both have backgrounds in music – my mom plays piano, my dad plays accordion. They would always take me and my sister to concerts so we could absorb the music culture and develop love and appreciation for it. I vividly remember playing with toy cars under a piano while my sister was practicing. Picking up an oboe seemed like a really fun idea at first. After all, what kind of a 7-year-old wouldn’t want to get his hands on this really cool and shiny brand-new toy with lots of peculiar-looking keys attached to it?!? So when I saw oboe I knew right away that was exactly what I wanted. Taking part in competitions, nationwide and international, became a natural development of my studies. And then I started winning. At a certain point this organically led me towards pursuing a career in music.
What other hobbies are you interested in?
I enjoy learning languages. I speak English and Russian. I’ve studied French for about 10 years, and I’m currently working on Mandarin Chinese. It’s unlike any of the languages I speak and therefore presents quite a fun challenge. I’ve been learning it for about three years now and I’ve been really enjoying the process.
And I love playing duduk, a traditional Armenian double-reed instrument much like an oboe. I have always been fascinated by this enchanting instrument. I picked it up a few years ago and immediately dived into recording the oboe and duduk solos for Netflix’s blockbuster fantasy series The Witcher starring Henry Cavill. It was an incredibly exciting opportunity, and, being a huge fan of The Witcher universe myself, I was beyond thrilled to record for the series and give my own voice to the main characters.
What do you enjoy most about playing with the San Diego Symphony?
Playing with the San Diego Symphony has been an amazingly exciting experience so far! The fact that almost every month, or sometimes every week we get to perform alongside some of the most incredible and renowned artists is super awesome! I never thought that I would be able to play with Emanuel Ax, Jennifer Hudson, Beach Boys, Yefim Bronfman, and Tower of Power in the span of just 3 months. Wild!
But what makes my experience with the symphony really special is my colleagues. Everyone is incredibly supportive of each other and every day when I come to work I feel extremely fortunate to be surrounded by such an amazing group of people.
Aaron Blick
What has been your most inspiring musical motivation over your career?
There’s something about the feeling of producing a big, booming acoustic sound, especially in the low register of the bass, that has inspired me for a long time. I’ve been so lucky to have seen and heard a lot of amazing bass players that I look up to produce these impressive sounds, with lots of character and color and emotion, that are unique to them as players and also as people. I think a person’s sound can share a lot about the person themselves, which is one of the reasons music can be so compelling, and why the same piece played by different musicians can say something completely different to the listener. So from a personal level, honing my own “personal sound” has been one of my never-ending motivations. And finding ways to blend my own sound with those of my colleagues in the orchestra is the most satisfying of all, because it not only challenges me to adjust and shape in the moment to express our collective musical goal, but it’s also a powerful way of communicating with everyone else on stage without saying a single word.
What drew you to your instrument? Was it your first choice?
It’s funny, in a lot of ways I feel like the bass chose me. I was a piano player for around 7 years before I picked up the bass. In middle school, you have to choose “electives” for the first time so I thought it would be interesting to join the school orchestra. At the time the school had no bass players in the advanced orchestra, so my orchestra teacher asked if I would be willing to learn bass since I could already read bass clef from my years with piano. And after a few years I eventually dropped piano lessons altogether since I wasn’t really practicing it anymore anyways, and focused completely on the bass.
What is your favorite food spot in San Diego and why?
I’m so thrilled to be living in San Diego because there is just an incredible number of options for really good food. This question is really difficult because I only just moved here in June, so I have a long list of amazing places that I haven’t had the chance to try yet. It’s also hard because I have different places that I prefer for different kinds of food. But if I was stranded on a deserted island and could only eat from one place for every meal I would probably pick Bahn Thai in University Heights. I absolutely love Thai food, especially curry, and the Panang and Massaman Curries from Bahn Thai are honestly the best I think I’ve ever had. I pretty much eat there every week and it’s a great place to go with friends!
Kevin Gobetz
33 years old
Long Island, NY
What makes music special to you?
When I was younger, music was simply a way to focus my attention. I found when I was practicing that my mind was one track and distraction wasn’t a problem anymore. The focus calmed me and made me feel accomplished. The more I grew up with music, the more I found it added to my life. It brings me closer to my own emotions, it connects me to my colleagues and my audiences, it forces me to be more discerning in my habits both artistically and routinely, and it acts as a medium to my expression that can be understood by anyone regardless of their situation.
What drew you to your instrument? Was it your first choice?
My first instrument was actually piano. My dad had a piano player when I was younger and I would watch the keys as they went down and copy the order in order to learn the songs. In 4th grade my dad suggested I play the bass. He loved and played the drums and I think he liked the idea of playing with a bass player and also I think he admired the instrument very much. Most memorably, my string teacher let me pluck a bass E string and I thought it was the coolest thing ever!
What other hobbies are you interested in?
Cooking! Probably the most xen and focusing activity (maybe even more than music at certain points) is cooking. I love the execution of the method and how most recipes, while balanced and deliberate, can be improvised and substituted. There are very few rules and the outcome is always a learning experience. I found when I began to cook, no food was out of reach and it brought me closer to real foods and being conscious of what actually goes into what we eat. And best of all, after all your hard work you have a ton of food to eat!
Lily Josefsberg
Age, 29
Ridgewood, NJ
How did your audition process change throughout your life and how would you advise an aspiring musician?
When I started thinking more about the process of auditioning rather than the outcome, it really shifted my perspective to be more positive and motivated to get in the practice room. I didn’t realize I had put so much pressure on the winning aspect, and started to forget why I wanted to play music in the first part. I would advise other eager musicians to feel in control of your own progress, and check in with yourself about what goals you want to achieve that day, hour, week, or whatever timeline is best suited for your needs.
What drew you to your instrument?
I started playing piccolo in seventh grade and was immediately drawn to it. I loved the adrenaline rush I got when there was a loud passage and the sound soared above everyone else. Because I’m typically a more reserved person, I use the instrument to showcase my voice in a way I’m not usually able to in social settings.
I also was intrigued by the piccolo because no one else seemed to enjoy it, and I was determined to prove them wrong!
What is your favorite food spot in San Diego and why?
Pop pie in University Heights. I have the biggest sweet tooth and have tried every pie they have on the menu. They never disappoint!