What is your life’s purpose?
My purpose in life is sharing the joy, satisfaction, and inspiration I find in playing the Violin.

How are you living your purpose?
I am about to finish my junior year at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance. For me, getting to pursue my passion in an environment where I am surrounded by peers and professors who are a constant source of inspiration and knowledge is invaluable. I find great purpose in the everyday work and practice that makes it possible for me to perform and thrive.

How did you find your purpose?
At the age of four, I decided that I wanted play the violin. Whether it was instinct, luck, or curiosity that spurred that decision, one thing is clear: I knew I wanted to be a violinist. As a child, I would make violins out of tinker toys, pretending to play them for anyone who would listen. I begged my parents for months to sign me up for lessons, and eventually they agreed.

I still remember the day I received my first violin. My world changed the moment I opened up that tiny, yellow velvet-lined case. Neither my parents nor I could have ever imagined the multitude of ways that music has shaped my identity, life, and sense of self purpose over these last sixteen years.

As a musician, my job is to create meaning and beauty; to say something through my art that is unique and inspiring. Music has the power to speak to people on a level that nothing else can. It helps us express emotions we didn’t even know we had. For me, I find my purpose in getting to not only experience these things for myself, but also being able to share them with others.

What advice do you have for purpose seekers?
Find the thing in life that you simply cannot live without, the thing that excites your heart, the thing that makes you feel at home. While the everyday process of pursuing your passion will undoubtedly come with its own set of unique difficulties, the work you put in should give you a feeling of worth, purpose, and accomplishment. Also, the road to finding your purpose might not always make sense or follow the plan you had in mind. What might seem like an obstacle at one point might later reveal itself as an important chapter in your own personal development.

What sources of inspiration do you recommend?
Fight Your Fear and Win by Don Greene, PhD. This book was especially helpful for learning techniques to perform in situations that are stressful.
Violinists who inspire me include James Ehnes and Leonidas Kavakos.

Contact Ella Loman
Email: ella.loman@yahoo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ella.loman

Ella Loman is a 21-year-old violinist from Dallas, Texas. Ella began her studies at the age of five and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

During the early years of her studies, Ella was a member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra where she held various leadership positions including Principal second violinist and Concertmaster of several different ensembles. In addition, Ella also received recognition as a soloist, winning First Place in the DMTA Senior Division Concerto Competition amongst several other regional competitions.

During her time at Indiana University, Ella has served in various different orchestral leadership roles including Concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra. She was also chosen to participate in an orchestral masterclass with Principal Second Violinist of the Cleveland Orchestra, Stephen Rose. In addition, Ella was also selected to perform as a member of a chamber orchestra led by world-renowned violinist, Joshua Bell. Ella was also a member of the chamber orchestra that went on tour to Seoul, South Korea in the spring of 2015.

Last summer, Ella attended the Aspen Music Festival, where she performed as a member of the Festival Orchestra. The previous summer, she attended the Kent Blossom Music Festival where she was the Concertmaster of the Festival Orchestra. This summer, Ella will be attending the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckinridge, Colorado as a violin fellow.

Ella currently studies with violinist Alexander Kerr, concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and professor of violin at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.