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the children grew older, they began to play together in chamber music groups, refining their love of music through interaction with other musicians. “When I was very young, my dad would have the three older siblings play and would arrange music for us to play at weddings and church,” Heather said. “It’s a little more individualistic training than being in an orchestra because each of us had our own part, but we still collaborated with other people. This brings up a great energy because playing off of other musicians is more interesting than playing by yourself.”
Heather Kufchak and Kathleen Winkler Coming to Rice The Kufchaks gravitated to Rice in different ways and at different times in their academic careers, but their reasons were similar. They were looking for a place that would nourish their love of music, that would strengthen their skills through intense training and that would help finance their dreams through scholarships. The Shepherd School, with its strong music program, supportive community and university setting, seemed ideal. And it didn’t hurt that, after cellist Matthew ’11 began here, the Rice family was truly family for them. “Rice gives its music students the advantage of a top conservatory-level music school attached to a top-level university,” said Matthew, who has played on National Public Radio’s “From the Top” as well as its PBS TV show from Carnegie Hall. “I really enjoy the fact that there are so many different types of people here. “If you go to a conservatory such as Juilliard that’s only a music school, you don’t really get to meet other types of people.” The Shepherd School orchestra program was another big draw, and he noted that, unlike other universities’ music schools, the Shepherd School holds 10 to 13 rehearsals for each concert. “Not only do we work on all these great pieces, but we also get to look at the music in so much greater depth. When we join a professional orchestra, we’ll have learned the music really, really well, so that we’re not just cramming in the notes but have really gotten to experience the music.”
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James Dunham and Rachel Kufchak A violin graduate student, 23-year-old Heather was drawn by the supportive community, which she’s learned about from Matthew, and by the faculty. “I initially applied to Rice on the recommendation of my previous violin teacher,” she said. “I applied specifically to study with Violin Professor Kathleen Winkler.” Indeed, Rice was such a powerful draw for the family that violinists Meredith and Rachel, both sophomores, joined the Shepherd School this past academic year. “I was really impressed with the level of musicianship at Rice,” Rachel said. For Meredith, who enjoys taking physics classes, it was the academic strength of the university, along with the stellar music program, that drew her to Rice. Here and Now Heather and Matthew currently play together in a string quartet, and Meredith and Rachel both say that the required chamber music program at the Shepherd School is their favorite component of the program. “Most musicians want to be soloists,” said Meredith. “But I think we’re all mainly in love with chamber music.” “Maybe it’s because that’s what I played growing up,” Rachel said. “I think the cool thing about it is that everyone has their own part, so you can be expressive. You’re making music in a way that you can’t in an orchestra.” According to accounts from their principal instructors, the four musicians all have strong emotional expressiveness in their music.