Get to know Heather

Ms. Heather Broadbent left her home town of Racine, Wisconsin on a full string scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance with a minor in piano performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. While in Colorado, Ms. Broadbent studied violin with Oswald Lehnert, Harold Wippler, and Jennifer John. For four years, Heather studied chamber music via small ensembles and chamber orchestras. She also received regular quartet coachings from the Takacs String Quartet and performed with the Boulder Lyric Festival.

Since Ms. Broadbent’s return to Racine in 2001, she has performed on a regular basis with Wisconsin Philharmonic, Rockford Symphony, Racine Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, Milwaukee Festival City Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, and the Illinois Symphony. Ms. Broadbent has also had the opportunity to perform with the Pamiro Opera, Chicago Chamber, Chicago Pops, Chicago Virtuosi Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber, Fox Valley Symphony and the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera.  Ms. Broadbent has been guest associate concertmaster of Dubuque Symphony, guest concertmaster of Racine Symphony, Racine Choral Arts and Chicago Virtuosi Orchestra.  Ms. Broadbent has soloed throughout the United States, Canada, and Bulgaria of which she was guest faculty of the International Chamber Music Festival in 2008.   Ms. Broadbent was a guest artist with the Gabrovo Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Ivan Stoyanov in 2010.  Ms. Broadbent has studied with world renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine for the last five years.

For two years, Ms. Broadbent held the position of chamber music director for Waukesha Area Youth Orchestra.  Ms. Broadbent currently has a studio of 15 talented private students which have held countless leadership positions in youth, school and honors orchestras as well as participating and placing in many solo and concerto competitions.  In 2010, a student of Ms. Broadbent’s performed at Carnegie Hall. 

Ms. Broadbent plays on a Violin crafted by Albert Karr in 1928, Kansas City, Missouri.  American violins of this time period are esteemed for their exceptional tonal quality as noted by American violin collector David Bromberg, whose violin collection has been on exhibition at the Smithsonian and Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris.   Ms. Broadbent’s bow is a Noel Burke bow made in 2005.  Noel Burke was awarded gold medals in international competitions: Violin Society of America (VSA) 1994; VSA 1996; RNCM Manchester 1998; Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris 1999.

Growing up in Racine, Ms. Broadbent studied with an exceptional pianist – Heinz Lutz. Besides a phenomenal classical training, Mr. Lutz encouraged Heather in music theory and improvisation through chords.  Heather’s senior year at Case High she had the opportunity to improvise on piano in jazz band.  Tyson Allison, singer and guitarist of the Sleeper Pins invited Heather to play with him in 2010.  Since their first show together at Mcauliffes on the square they have played in Milwaukee at Linnemans and The Elbow Room in Chicago among other places in between.   The Sleeper Pins is all original music with original parts.