Member Profiles

French horn

Christina Vermillion

What do you do when you're not making beautiful music with Camerata Notturna?
By day I'm a website producer for Condé Nast Digital. By evening I help organize the greatest chamber orchestra that ever did exist.

Tell us a little about your relationship with your instrument:
I chose the French horn when I was 10 years old and heard it played in a demonstration. It was the glorious sound of the horn that drew me in. My specific horn is an Engelbert Schmid original that I bought from Javier Gandara (Met Opera Orchestra). Javier bought the horn while the Met was on tour in Japan. It had quite a bit of wear and tear, but I fell in love with it and had to have it. Just last year, I sent the horn back to Mr. Schmid and had it restored to it's full glory by the master himself. It's the most important thing I own and has shaped my life in ways I never could have imagined.

What is your proudest musical moment?
Playing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Funny or embarrassing musical experience?
I once forgot the music to my solo piece for an audition at the Rochester Philharmonic. I have a terrible memory and would NEVER willingly go into an audition playing something by memory, but play by memory I did! Apparently I should have done this more often as I advanced in that round to be a semi-finalist for the job.

What do you enjoy about Camerata Notturna?:
When I was first called to play with the fledgling Camerata, I was still attempting to make my way as a freelancer and I was hesitant to play with a group that did not have any money to pay me. However, deciding to come and play was one of the best decisions I ever made. A year later when I was back living in Scotland and frustrated with the freelance scene, I struggled with the choice of where to live (Scotland or NYC) and whether to continue with the frustrations of freelancing. It was largely due to Camerata that I realized I could keep music in my life and have a stable career outside of music. Every concert I have played has been special to me. The people of Camerata have become some of my dearest and closest friends. In short, it means the world to me.

Favorite Notturna moment:
They're all my favorite.

Random Interesting Fact about me:
In 2006 I circumnavigated the world...twice. (once going east, once going west)