Meet Benedikt Brydern: Jazz Violinist and Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benedikt Brydern and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benedikt, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is an integral part of an artists life, although when starting out you usually don’t think too much about it. Usually you just “do” your art and present yourself. Many years later after having had plenty of experiences with projects, offers, promises and other music related things I started to think more about “taking the risk”.
Life and time is precious , so I’m more aware of the question: Is it worth it taking that risk ..?”etc.
Because I’m very passionate about my art I also learned that I need to be more protective about it. In the business world uses a term called “Risk assessment” I and happen to use the process more frequently in my decision making. Risk can lead to dramatic changes, often for the better and I’ve grown as a person and musician.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started early at the age of six with violin lessons. I’m originally from Germany and music and arts were going strong in all schools. Visits to the opera house and concerts halls were normal and we had a school orchestra pretty much throughout my entire school years. Practicing requires discipline and for most of the time I seemed to have it. I do admit I had a few years of sloppiness, hanging out with friends and playing soccer rather than practicing a few hours on my instrument. But that is important as well. I made up for it with longer hours studying when I enrolled in music conservatory.
I added composition when I was around 17 years old. I found it very interesting to improvise and create “my own” music. I try to learn something new on every project I work on or concert I play. As the famous cellist Pablo Casals said at the ag of 80:” I think I’m getting better every day a bit when practicing”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles has a lot to offer. Little did I know of those “pockets” when I first arrived. It took me years to discover my favorite spots. I loved Runyon Canyon when I lived in Hollywood, easy hike and fabulous view over the city. Also Griffith Observatory is a must stop when I take friends around town.
Because I play music from the 1930s I am very happy to show off some of the Art Deco Buildings we have in town.
Visit Clifton’s Cafeteria or the Cicada Club Downtown and you get an idea.
To demonstrate how a great fast food burger can taste, a visit to In-an-Out is a must, also some Chinese restaurants in Chinatown are very authentic !

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Many unsung heroes in the music world are our teachers. Luckily I had three great ones, who developed and groomed my musical understanding, technique and performance. When I was a teenager, Anna Schmidt introduced me to the wonderful world of chamber music – listening to and performing with others. On the technical side, my Russian teacher Jacob Gilman passed on his knowledge from the rich history of Russian violin methods and Urs Stiehler towards my final years at the conservatory combined all elements and polished my inner and pouter violin playing. It took me many years before I actually understood certain things, which went over my head back then. I’m very grateful.

Website: www.consordino.com

Instagram: @wolfamadee

Image Credits
Benedikt Brydern