Theory Maxine Kwok-Adams, first violin with the LSO, tells us about work, her online profile and the changes in orchestras that have helped her career flourish. Profile by Ariane Todes
“I was not confident when I was young.” You might be surprised to hear this statement from Maxine Kwok-Adams, the blue-haired, tap-dancing, outgoing London Symphony Orchestra first violinist with one of the most fun Twitter feeds in classical music and more than 5,000 followers. She’s surprised herself: “I was quite shy, which seems strange when people see me now. This job and music mean so much to me and I want to express that.”
Photo: Joseph Branston. © MU 2019
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Kwok-Adams is blessed with a natural generosity and warmth of character. Her online presence is full of this passion, with photos from rehearsals, backstage and touring life. She joined in 2010 and explains, “I started to research what it meant and what people do on it and it went from there. It all started in a personal way. Now I focus more on what we’re doing in a rehearsal. People seem to enjoy being a fly on the wall for that. I post a picture of a rehearsal and they say things like, ‘it’s so interesting to see classical musicians in jeans and casual clothes’.” Her feed has also been increasingly dotted with pictures of Sir Simon Rattle conducting or chatting among the orchestra, as he has finally taken over the helm as Music Director. How does she feel about his arrival? “I’m really
The Musician • Spring 2019
excited about it. It’s been a great start. He is such a huge figure throughout the world, but especially in this country.” Work and play The lighthearted view of orchestral life Kwok-Adams presents doesn’t detract from the hard work involved in getting into one of the world’s leading orchestras – and staying there. As a child, growing up in Bromley, she already had her sights set: “I’d wanted to be in a symphony orchestra since I was in the National Children’s Orchestra and then the National Youth Orchestra. I would always choose to put on symphonic repertoire rather than violin repertoire. I was driven and knew what I wanted.” As a student at the Royal Academy of Music, she took part in the LSO’s String Experience training scheme, and after graduating she spent a couple of years freelancing in London orchestras until winning the LSO appointment. The LSO had always been a dream job for her: “My dad was huge fan and was always going on about the LSO soundtrack, so the orchestra was always in the back of my mind.” Unsurprisingly, she says her career highlights include working on new Star Wars music
