ViolinAngela Homnick

Music has never been a stranger to San Diego Symphony Orchestra violinist Angela Homnick. A musician since the age of five, her father is a pianist and taught at the University of California, Irvine; her mother was a ballerina in Europe; her uncle (whom she studied with) was the Concertmaster with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw; and her husband, Cory Homnick, plays the saxophone and has appeared several times with SDSO at Summer Pops.

Growing up with such a musical family in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, it is easy to understand the impulse for Angela to become a musician. Originally starting out very young learning to some play some piano, she switched to the violin at age seven. As an accomplished student violinist she entered several youth competitions in the Orange County area that included winning a Young Artist Concerto Competition, and then subsequently appeared with the Orange County Youth Philharmonic. She studied with USC Thornton School Professor Emerita of Violin Alice Schoenfeld for many years. 

Mrs. Homnick first joined the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in 1976 and played with the orchestra through the 1978-79 season. In 1979 she moved to Boston to study with Boston Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Joseph Silverstein from 1979-81 while substituting with the BSO. The highlight of Mrs. Homnick’s time in New England was in 1980, when she spent the summer playing with the orchestra at Tanglewood. During her four years in Boston, she also played with the Boston Ballet, Boston Pops and Boston Opera orchestras. 

In 1983, Angela returned to San Diego, re-auditioned with the symphony and has been with the orchestra ever since. She has also played with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. Angela coordinates and performs in a string quintet (fully composed of San Diego Symphony Orchestra musicians) that appears several times a year in San Diego area schools as part of the Symphony’s Education and Outreach efforts. 

Outside of her music, Ms. Homnick enjoys gardening and the times she can spend with her two sons, Jared (a recent SDSU grad with a Political Science degree) and Brendan (earning a Math degree at UCLA and playing in their marching band). She also loves to travel with her husband Cory at every opportunity when the Symphony has time off. 

GETTING TO KNOW ANGELA HOMNICK…

Q: What are some favorite works in your CD collection? 

A: Brahms’ Violin Concerto performed by Hilary Hahn; Eddie Daniels’ Breakthrough; The Sinding Suite performed by Jascha Heifetz; and Schumann's Konzertstuck for Four Horns by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Barenboim) 

Q: How did you choose your instrument? 

A: I actually began learning to play piano in my dad’s studio. One year a violinist came in to use the studio, and I became very fascinated by and attracted to the instrument…so I switched! 

Q: What are a couple of your favorite movies? 

A: I really like The English Patient and It’s a Wonderful Life. 

Q: What are you favorite travel destinations? 

A: Recently my husband and I went to Italy where we rented a car and drove all over it, including visiting an aunt in Northern Italy. Spectacular! Also, we love to visit Paris. 

Q: What good book have you read recently? 

A: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Q: What is your favorite San Diego Symphony Orchestra memory? 

A: I so enjoyed performing Mahler’s Ninth Symphony in Fall 2011 with Jahja Ling conducting. I think it all came off very well! It is a piece that I really didn’t know thoroughly, and just hadn’t had the opportunity to perform here in San Diego.