IU alum to perform unique style at International Violin Competition

Indiana alumna Sara Caswell knew she wanted to be a violinist when she was five years old. And she wasn’t about to let anyone fiddle with her future. Not even her mother. \n“My mom was not a huge fan of the violin,” Caswell said. “She sort of saw it as a squawk-box.”\nNow an accomplished musician, Caswell is able to look back on those days fondly. She was born and raised in Bloomington. Both of her parents were teachers for the Jacobs School of Music, the institution where Caswell eventually studied violin.\nCaswell was the first Indiana resident to compete in the annual International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, and will return to this year’s competition today as \na performer.\n“There’s a great history to this performance,” she said. “I’m honored to be asked to come and perform for the Indianapolis fan base.”\nThe performance will display her unique style through a joint performance with other past competition winners, including her sister, Rachel Caswell. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. today at the Indiana History Center in Indianapolis.\nCaswell attributes her talent to the emphasis her parents placed on music in the home.\n“It was as if music was a second language for us,” she said. “I can’t imagine feeling this passionate about anything else.”\nProfessor David Baker, Chair of IU’s Department of Jazz Studies, worked with Caswell at a young age, and had a large impact on the violinist’s unique style. Caswell earned a degree in jazz violin, which Baker said is \nextremely unusual.\n“She took to jazz like a duck takes to water,” Baker said.\nChair of Strings Department Mimi Zweig also worked with Caswell as a child. She attributes the musician’s success to her diversity.\n“She was very classically trained, but doing other things also, and just soaking them up,” Zweig said. “She can do anything and everything.”\nAfter graduation, Caswell attended the Manhattan School of Music to pursue a graduate degree. Though she always loved New York City, she admitted the move was a big change. Despite the adjustments, she said she fell in love with the city’s diverse \nmusical community.\n“To be surrounded by that kind of energy is just inspirational,” she said.\nShe still lives in the city, but confesses that sometimes she needs a trip back to Bloomington.\n“When you’re from the Midwest, you can’t really escape from your love affair from that region,” Caswell said. “When the energy here gets too intense, I go back to Indiana to unwind.”\nCaswell has released two CDs since moving to New York City. Her teachers said they are not surprised by \nher success.\n“She loves being up on that stage and communicating with people,” Zweig said. “She just loves the music.”