Emily Nolan

Violin I

Emily Nolan has served as a member of the first violin section of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra since 2016. Nolan is also a member of True Concord Voices and Orchestra and Tucson Pops Orchestra.

Nolan began her violin studies at the age of nine. She studied with Jon Summerlin in Rhode Island, along with Dr. Theodore Arm at the University of Connecticut. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, Nolan attended the University of Arizona for her Master’s and Doctorate under the direction of Mark Rush and Lauren Roth. Nolan was one of the first participants in the Graduate String Quartet assistantship at the University of Arizona, while working on her doctoral degree. Nolan has also studied with world-renowned musicians during various master classes and festivals, including the Juilliard String Quartet, Ani Kavafian (Yale University), the Pacifica Quartet, the Orion String Quartet, and Martin Beaver (Tokyo String Quartet).

Not only is Emily Nolan a violinist, she is also a music teacher for Tucson Unified School District and a private violin instructor.

What's your earliest musical memory?

“I'm not sure if it is my earliest musical memory, but one of the earliest and most memorable memories I have is seeing my dad sing with a choir called Ecclesia Consort, in Rhode Island. It gives me goosebumps to this day, remembering the beautiful sound and blend of the choir performing in a church.”

Who are your musical heroes?

“Some of my musical heroes include Hilary Hahn, members of the Dover Quartet, and Christian Tetzlaff. Tetzlaff is a musician of note because he has had to overcome playing with a condition called neurodermatitis, which can cause extreme pain in his left hand.”

What's your favorite thing about Tucson?

“My favorite thing about Tucson is being able to enjoy the beautiful scenery, while being active either running or cycling almost every day (as long as it's not down pouring during monsoon season).”