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ESO 101: Megan Evans

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ESO 101: Megan Evans

Meet Megan Evans, Assistant Principal Horn for the ESO. Megan has been performing with the ESO for 11 years. She spends her free time training for triathlons, teaching online music lessons, and eating Haribo gummy bears.


How long have you with the ESO?
I’ve been with the orchestra for 11 years.

How many instruments do you know how to play?
Just the horn.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?
I’m not ashamed to admit it - I listen to country music in the car.

What is the last album you purchased (digital or physical)?
Schoenberg: Pelleas und Mélisande by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Who would be your partner on the Amazing Race?
My roommate, Kate.

What is your pre-concert ritual?
Eat a small, easy dinner - usually just peanut butter toast or something like that. I try to be at the hall 45 min to an hour before. I grab a coffee, get changed, then depending how challenging the concert is, I either chat with my co-workers for a while or go onstage to look at the music. Then it’s time to go!

What's something people might not know about you?
I had a pet snake as a kid!

What is your favourite sports team or player?
I occasionally watch tennis and my favourite player is Roger Federer.

How many different cities have you lived in?
Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Edmonton.

What is your favourite city (or a country) you’ve travelled and why?
I travelled to France with my family for eight weeks and it was one of my favourite vacations.

What is your favourite orchestra other than the ESO?
Berlin Philharmonic.

What do you do in your free time?
I train for triathlons, walk my dog, and spend time with my friends.

What food would be on your rider as a rock star?
Haribo gummy bears.


Rapid Fire section

Coffee or tea?
Coffee

Pancakes or Waffles?
Waffles

Facebook or Instagram?
Both

Coke or Pepsi?
Neither

Cats or dogs?
Both!

Dine-in or take-out?
Dine-in

Apple or Android?
Apple

PC or Mac?
Mac

Morning or Night?
Night

Call or text?
Text

Beethoven or Mozart?
Beethoven

Schubert or Dvořák?
Dvořák

Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff?
Rachmaninoff

Book or movie?
Book

Mountains or ocean?
Mountains

Wine or beer?
Wine

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Trek

Musical or opera?
Opera


Quarantine Edition

What keeps you busy while you are isolating at home?
I’ve been extra cautious isolating because I came back from a trip to Montreal, so I haven’t even been to a store for the last two weeks. To keep my time filled, at first I tried to accomplish a bunch of decluttering and cleaning tasks but I quickly realized that I couldn’t replace the joy and excitement of making music with cleaning! I just felt depressed. Instead, I do the same three things every day that make me happy. Practice my horn, walk the dog, and work out. I’ve taught a few horn and trumpet lessons online - that’s pretty fun, actually, and I’m hoping to find a few more students.

What is the best part about being at home and/or working from home?
It’s unusual in my life to have such a consistent routine. Normally when the orchestra is working, our days are all over the place with concerts and rehearsals. We end up eating and sleeping at different times every day. You get used to it but it has been nice to have such a regular routine.

What is the best part about being at home and/or working from home?
I miss my friends from work and making music.

What is your go-to comfort food?
I’m not much of a foodie. I enjoy whatever. Especially if someone else makes it!!