Emily Hogstad

My name is Emily E Hogstad, I’m in my mid-twenties, I play violin and viola, and I currently live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I'm best known for writing the blog Song of the Lark. I occasionally cross-post entries here on violinist.com, where I began my blogging adventures over a decade ago!

I’ve been a music nerd my whole life. My mom wrote in a journal when I was five months old: “Em also played piano for half an hour. When I tried to get her away, she cried… She also continues to scream…!!!” This pattern of loving music and then screaming about it has continued to the present day.

My subject matter ranges from forgotten Edwardian violin prodigies to historic orchestra concerts to advertising about Beethoven’s crotch. My work has been cited by Drew McManus, Kevin Case, Norman Lebrecht, and Alex Ross, among others, and I’ve also appeared on or in MinnPost, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Public Radio, National Public Radio, WQXR, and the New York Times.

Music-wise, I played violin in the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony for four years, serving intermittently in principal roles. Since then I’ve performed with various ensembles, including the String Connection Orchestra and the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. In 2006, I attended the Green Lake Festival of Music in Green Lake, Wisconsin, and worked with such nationally-renowned faculty and guest artists as the Amelia Piano Trio, Desiree Ruhstraht, and Samantha George. I’ve studied both violin and viola with a couple of Minnesota Orchestra members. I am honored to play a beautiful violin made by Loual Riebel in 2004 in Cremona. My viola was born in a factory.

I’m also very proud to volunteer with Save Our Symphony Minnesota, a pioneering audience advocacy group that seeks to keep the community engaged in preserving our world-class Minnesota Orchestra.

My first love is the history of women in classical music. I’m especially interested in the lives of the great violin virtuosas of the Victorian era who have been all but forgotten today. Celebrating their careers is a personal crusade of mine.

If you want to get in touch, please follow me on Facebook. While you're there, remind me to keep up with my Twitter account. And of course the comment section is always open!

Blog Posts

2016: Feb.

2015: Jan. Apr. May

2014: Mar. Apr. Jul. Aug.

2013: May Jun. Nov.

2012: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Nov. Dec.

2011: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2010: May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep.

2005: Jan.

2004: Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Nov. Dec.