Laura Brenner,Viola

Professional Bio

Laura J. Brenner, viola, took her position with the Sarasota Orchestra in 1999. Previously, she was been a sitting member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Classical Symphony Orchestra of Chicago, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra in Melbourne, FL, the Illinois Symphony, the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, the Mantovani Orchestra and The Orlando Philharmonic, and has toured Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Korea and Taiwan.  

Laura has performed in numerous special engagements including in Disney's Candlelight Orchestra, Disney's Weddings of a Lifetime for Lifetime television, Sunset Boulevard in Tampa, the Seaside Music Theater in Daytona, the Spoleto Festival USA and in the orchestras of Ray Price, Marvin Hamlisch, Harry Connick, Jr., Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Jimi Page/ Robert Plant, James Taylor, Clay Aiken and Mannheim Steamroller.  

Originally from Glencoe, IL, Laura was a student of Robert Swan and Catherine Brubaker of Chicago Symphony Orchestra and earned her Bachelor’s of Music from North Park University in Chicago and her Master’s degree in learning and technology from Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah.  

Laura is an adjunct professor of viola at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL.

Personal Bio

What is your proudest musical moment?
Commissioning Biography, a viola sonata, which I performed in recital at Florida Southern University in 2006. It was reviewed by the American Viola Society.  

What non-musical accomplishment are you most proud of?
Earning my black belt in Okinawan Karate.  

What career would you choose if you were not a musician?
I would have been an actress. 

Who is your favorite composer and why?
Mahler. He brilliantly goes from large orchestra with a big rich sound, to a woodwind quintet. His textures are so varied it keeps the symphonies interesting, as well as fun to play.  

When not rehearsing or performing, I spend my time:
playing with my dog, reading and working on my website practiceyourviola.org.  

When in the car I listen to:
everything from Led Zeppelin to Bach.  

My favorite holiday tradition is:
putting up the same little Christmas tree my husband and I received when we first got married 15 years ago. There are too many ornaments for it now, but it has so many great memories, I can't get rid of it.  

My dream is to:
see the entire United States.  

What I like best about the Sarasota/ Manatee area:
The support for the arts. It is so rare to find that in Florida…and I work all over this state! 

People are surprised when they learn this about me:
That when I retire, I plan on spending time RV-ing around the country.