Match Made on Violinist.com

June 7, 2024, 10:56 AM · CHICAGO - As the founder of Violinist.com, I've sometimes joked that "my life will only truly be complete when I meet a couple who is getting married - because they met on Violinist.com!" I didn't think it would actually happen - and then...it did!

On Wednesday, standing in the The Village Church of Northbrook as the first concert of the North Shore Chamber Music Festival was letting out, a couple walked up to me and asked, "Are you Laurie?"

It was Carmel and James - otherwise known on this site as Carl S and James T - and boy did they have something to tell me!

"We thought that was you!" Carmel said. They'd read my story about NSCMF and knew I'd be here in Chicago... "We just wanted to let you know that we met on Violinist.com and..." Just from their expressions, I could tell exactly where this conversation was going. Carmel lifted her hand to show me the shiny diamond on her ring finger. "We've been engaged for one and a half months!"

I was completely flabbergasted - and also thrilled! I'm not sure exactly what I said, something along the lines of "Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! Congratulations! Wow!"

"I can even show you the discussion thread where we met..." Carmel said, using her phone to call up the May 2019 discussion that James had started, I blew this month's paycheck seeing Hilary Hahn 4 times with the CSO!

Spoiler alert: this is an epic discussion, for the ages, in which James gives a vivid and colorful review of Hilary playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Chicago Symphony, and many other people chime in. A few posts in, "Carl S" joins - clearly a fan on the same level as James, with tickets to see all four of Hilary's Chicago performances. Since they are both going to all these concerts, James asks, "Do you want to meet up outside the hall?"

They manage to coordinate this, and two days later, James reports that they grabbed a beer together after Hilary's performance - "It's always interesting to meet online people in real life, and we had a great time."

And in fact, several posts later he is referring to "my new best friend Carl..."

By the way, they had attended Hilary's Q&A and did some great reporting on this - it's still a wonderful read for anyone interested in Hilary's Vuillaume's violins.

In the time since, James and Carmel definitely became "best friends" and went on to enjoy many musical adventures together. They also visited longtime Violinist.com member Lydia Leong in person, and they shared this picture:

They did eventually get in touch with Hilary Hahn, and Carmel told me that "Hilary signed a photo for us to commemorate that night" - the night they met. Here is that photo, which was taken by Todd Rosenberg, and a picture of them holding it.

And very gratifying for me, Carmel told me that "we have enjoyed your work over the years and have used it in our musical adventures, whether from doing a day trip to see the Indianapolis competition to listening to James Ehnes recitals from home, to booking Sirena Huang for our community orchestra to flying to Tanglewood for the summer concerts."

I couldn't be more happy myself, for this happy couple and the way their love for the violin has brought them together! Congratulations James and Carmel!

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Replies

Christian Lesniak

June 7, 2024 at 05:39 PM · Very cute!

Diana Skinner

June 7, 2024 at 05:53 PM · A beautiful story about a beautiful couple of violinists! I have tears in my eyes. Thank you, Laurie! Congratulations, James & Carmel!

Richard Pairaudeau

June 7, 2024 at 06:31 PM · Christian and Diana have said it all! Adding my congratulations!

Zosia Cocker

June 7, 2024 at 09:00 PM · Congratulations Carmel and James! And, congratulations Laurie !!

Samira Phillips

June 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM · Aw, what a sweet story! Congrats all around!

Yixi Zhang

June 8, 2024 at 12:06 AM · What a wonderful and sweet story! Congratulations to Carmel and James! And congratulations to you too, Laurie! V.com has connected violinists over the years in the more magical way than anything else I know. It has brought us out of our practice room and reach out to other likeminded people from all over the world in such an egalitarian way that is revolutionary.

Thank you again Laurie and Robert!