Kim Kashkashian, Violist Extraordinaire

As I’m sure most of you know, violist Kim Kashkashian won the Grammy for “Best Classical Instrumental Solo” for her album Kurtag and Ligeti of works by Hungarian composers Gyorgy Kurtag and Gyorgy Ligeti.
When the announcement was made, a huge buzz went through the viola world — both because a violist had won the solo instrumental Grammy, and because the pop world began reporting that Kim Kardashian had won a Grammy.
Click below for a few samples of the pop world’s hilarious confusion.
Hollywood.com
Fox News
Freep.com
To her credit, “our” Kim very kindly said that she could probably take some fashion advice from the “other” Kim.
On Wednesday, March 13, Robin Young of WBUR Boston’s “Here and Now” NPR program aired a 10-minute interview with Kim Kashkashian, about her Grammy and her recent recordings (both the Kurtag and Ligeti  solo recording and Ulysses Gaze, music by Greek composer Eleni Karaindrou). Kim talks about how much easier it is to have a solo viola career in Europe than in the States, and she and Robin discuss the Music for Food program, where musicians collect food and funds for area food pantries.
Click here for the “Here and Now” NPR interview.
Kim does a very fun thing during the interview — she plays the same four ascending notes in the style of Bach, Brahms, Kurtag & Ligeti, and Ken Ueno. The host, Robin Young, is just amazed.
Well, we violists *are* truly just amazing!