Say Cello to Jivan, who has been coming to Ashokan for more than half his life. We asked Jivian a few questions to find out what makes him return to Ashokan year-after-year and how Ashokan has inspired his musical journey.
What makes Ashokan different than any other place you’ve studied music?
On top of the amazing new tunes and thrilling techniques, Ashokan is just so inclusive of all skill levels and the community is so tight-knit and welcoming. Everyone can learn and join, and gain so much, even if they aren’t experienced.
How has Ashokan inspired your musical journey?
Ashokan has brought my mind more into fiddle tunes and Appalachian music, which has inspired some of my compositional styles. Now I feel more open to doing genres where initially I would have thought cello wasn’t allowed, such as jazz and Chinese music. Because, as I’ve learned, the cello can do anything!
And has Ashokan helped you to inspire others?
I use tunes from Ashokan everyday to help inspire others whether at nursing homes or at old time jams. And one time, I even changed the rules of a music competition by performing Ashokan Farewell on cello for the panel of judges, with uncle Jay’s permission of course.
I was entering the Kiwanis Competition, but they didn’t permit cello (or viola or bass) to do fiddle music. I asked if I could play my arrangement of Ashokan Farewell on cello and swayed the judges decision on the matter. Not only did I win first prize, but from now on, all strings will be permitted to enter Kiwanis Competition for fiddle music.
Thanks for sharing your stories with us. Do you have any tips for the budding young musician, or the young at heart.
Keep pushing forward! You don’t have to exhaust yourself doing it, but doing a little consistently will get you to a point way past what you thought you’d be able to achieve!
It’s always so wonderful to try new genres of music. Always keep your possibilities wide open, in my opinion, cause whatever new genres of music you stumble into you might just adore.
