Eleanor Blake

Hometown: Milford, MA

Year joined the BPO: 2007

Hobbies other than music:  I love to play the cello. I would say my job is music and my hobby is music, if I have extra time I enjoy playing through something for fun, getting together with friends and reading through chamber music, or working on something with my husband who is an organist. Its pretty much all I do now, and I’m so happy doing it.

Earliest musical memory: I began playing the violin when I was 4 years old. The first time I saw a violin I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.  I started lessons and practiced so hard for my first concert that I strained my neck muscles and found my head stuck leaning to the left.  I sadly missed my concert and instead went to a chiropractor as a 4 year old to fix the problem. Soon after this my teacher said, “Perhaps you should play the cello instead?”  The rest is history…

What's on your iPod? 100% Classical Music, including a strangely large collection of Dvorak Cello Concerto recordings…

Other than performing music, I've always thought it would be fun to be a:  Veterinarian

Who is one person from musical history (living or deceased) you'd like to have dinner with, and why? Brahms.  He was a simple man who loved music and spent his life writing it.  He gave much of his money away to younger composers struggling to make ends meet as well as the poor.  He spent his free time walking and enjoying nature. Brahms was selfless and a brilliant musician.

Funniest concert experience: Once I was performing a Beethoven symphony and the last 8 measures of the symphony completely fell apart. The conductor was so upset when he gave the final cut off, stomped his feet, broke his baton in half, and threw it at the orchestra. Oh, and I have a recording of it to listen to when I need a laugh. I’m not sure if it was funny then, but it was bizarre and it makes me laugh now.