Lindsey Stirling gave an incredible performance at Idea Festival in Kentucky late last month. I was introduced to her on and off the stage and not only is her music and energy addictive, but she has a gem of a personality that is incredibly warm and genuine.
Here’s her story in her words and you’ll see what I mean.
I have had an interesting journey that has brought me to where I am today as a person and a performer. As a child my family struggled financially and although my parents didn’t know when the next paycheck would come, they created a world of love and safety for my two sisters. I can’t imagine a happier childhood.
For as long as I can remember, music has played a huge role in my home. Through an old record player (our only source of music), my dad would play his favorite classical records to which magically turned my sisters and I into twirling ballerina princesses. Along with that, every week my dad would make big red circles in the newspaper around all the free concerts he could find. As a result of this musical exposure, at the age of 5 I begged my parents to let me play the violin. After a year of relentless pleading, my mother found one teacher that would give me 15 minute lessons a week. No one else would agree to this because they were convinced that no child could learn with such little instruction. Even with this small commitment, it continued to be a struggle for years for my parents to financially facilitate lessons. I will forever be grateful for the huge sacrifices they made for me to persue a lifelong love.
I was classically trained through private lessons, and symphonies, for 12 years; however, amidst my strict study, I creatively began to explore other genres. When I was 16 I joined the rock band Stomp On Melvin, and with my 4 best guy friends, experienced rock and roll.
From there, I wrote my solo violin rock song which I used to compete in the Jr Miss Pageant. This was during my senior year and it was my chance to win scholarship money so I could pay for college. With my punky hair, and rocking talent, sandwiched between two formal gowns and piano concertos, I felt like I was a million miles away from the typical graceful pageant girl. Because of this, I was shocked when I won both the Gilbert and the Arizona pageant. From this I learned that if you are true to yourself, if you stand for what you believe in, people will love you for who you are and for who you love to be. There really is no mold aside from the cookie cutter that we impose upon ourselves. At the national Jr Miss Pageant I was the talent runner up and by the newspapers I was awarded the title of being the first Punk Rock Jr. Miss.
My violin has continued to bring color and adventure into every phase of my life. I took it with me to NYC when I went on my LDS mission for the Mormon Church. As I served the people and shared my beliefs with them, I grew to love them so much. I love seeing people find greater happiness as they came to know that there is purpose to life, that there is a Father in Heaven who loves them, and that God has a plan for them. I felt so privileged to share my love and my God given talent of music with so many amazing people.
I am stilling going to school at BYU studying Therapeutic Recreation. I am planning to work with at risk teenage girls in the future. On the side, I play with random bands for fun but I would love to join a band, or pursue a solo career in music. There are very few things that I love more than being on stage and performing, but more than anything, I want to be a positive role model for teenage girls. Through my unique style of playing, I want to prove that you don’t have to conform to be accepted. The greatest Value comes from loving yourself for who you are.
Below is a snapshot of her violin playing.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
