I joined Local 802 to gain access to quality work for humane compensation and to find a broader musical community in New York City. Because this city has such an appetite for the arts, it’s an ideal place to collaborate with passionate musicians. My goal is to work as a chamber musician while performing and teaching in a variety of settings. My most favorite recent gig was a concert I gave at Columbia University; I loved curating a program of works by Brahms and Prokofiev and working in detail with two extremely artistic pianists. I particularly enjoy working in small ensembles because the process of interpreting and performing music together is so complex and rich. I played in a piano trio for two years and most recently I completed a contract as part of a piano quintet with the RWS Entertainment Group’s Lincoln Center Stage for Holland America Line. Outside of classical music, I played for two years with an Afro-Cuban charanga band, which introduced me to improvisation and a more rote-based style of music. I’ve spent my whole life studying music, first at the pre-college program at the Manhattan School of Music and later at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I’ve played as a soloist and in orchestras in both educational and professional settings and also have experience with baroque violin. As a teacher, I had a private violin studio while I lived in Bloomington and taught groups at the Union City Music Project. I think that music is important because its power to move people is limitless. It can expose the stuff that’s in our hearts and minds more than anything else, and I’ve found that the process of understanding, communicating and listening makes us more honest and compassionate. I am healthy and safe during the current situation, and wishing the best for all fellow musicians. While in isolation, I am learning new tech to play and teach, while working on some long-term projects. — Ariana Cappon

(This interview was updated online after the print version of Allegro went to press.)