classical
Willa Finck is a member of the second violin section of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She won her position in this world-renowned ensemble in April 2023 and began performing with them that September.
Willa’s time with the orchestra began with a whirlwind four-week tour; two weeks traveling through Europe with the whole ensemble followed by two weeks in China as a part of a 14-musician delegation returning for the 50th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first visit to China in 1973.
Prior to her appointment in Philadelphia, Willa was a member of the first violin section of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from 2017-2023. She joined the orchestra while completing her undergraduate degree at the Eastman School of Music.
She served as a concertmaster in both the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra and the Eastman Philharmonia, starting both positions in her sophomore year. During and after her time at Eastman, Willa performed with faculty members, Steven Doane, Rosemary Elliot, Masumi Per Rostad, Alexander Kobrin, George Taylor, and her own teacher, Mikhail Kopelman.
50th Anniversary China Residency: photo by Todd Rosenberg
In the summers she has participated in the Verbier Festival as associate concertmaster and principal second violin of the Verbier Festival Orchestra, the Madeline Island Center for Chamber Music Fellowship Program, and the National Youth Orchestra of the USA.
Willa attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts her senior year of high school, where she studied with Ida Bieler and Sarah Johnson.
photo by Todd Rosenberg
folk
A North Carolina native, Willa grew up playing Celtic and American folk music with her family. For over a decade she played with her father, sister, and friend in the Celtic group The Forget-Me-Nots, who performed across western North Carolina, most notably at the roots music festival, Merlefest.
The Forget-Me-Nots released three albums, the third of which, ("Blooming" 2010) is comprised of all original music.
In November 2019 Willa released an impromptu live-recording solo album entitled "Ask Me Why" with pianist Sterling Cozza and trumpet player Nathan Kay.
Willa was a founding member of Copper Hill, a Rochester-based folk band that performed from 2017-2020. Copper Hill released one album during their tenure, "Once Around the Sun". This and "Ask Me Why" marked her vocal and songwriting debuts.
From 2020-2023 Willa played in an Irish duo with guitarist and trombonist Brendan Lanighan.
family
Willa's sister Ledah Finck has also pursued a career in music and is now a violinist, violist and composer based in New York City.
Both sisters play on instruments made by their father, David Finck Luthier, whose workshop is located in Boone, North Carolina.
Her number one fan is her mother, Dr. Marie Hoepfl, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at Appalachian State University.
fun
Willa finds joy in many of the art forms: music of course, but also visual arts, dance, film, and literature.
She is an avid reader and movie-watcher and her interests also include painting, photography, hiking, cooking, and sustainable fashion.
Favorite Recent Read: "The Stranger" - Albert Camus