Sidney Lofthouse
Sidney Tovey Lofthouse was born in Roseburg Oregon and began taking violin lessons at age 5. At 13, she began studying with Dr. Julia Salerno, violin professor at Eastern Washington University. In 2017 Sidney won the Grande Ronde Symphony Concerto Competition and had the opportunity to solo with the Grande Ronde Symphony playing Saint Saens 3rd violin concerto and be a scholarship recipient. Sidney has attended several summer festivals over the last 10 years including the Luzerne Music Center, Indiana University Summer String Academy, The Meadowmount School of Music, The Orford Music Festival, The Saarburg International Music Festival in Saarburg Germany and most recently the Orvieto Summer Music Festival in Orvieto, Italy.
In 2018 Sidney attended Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles where she studied with Dr. Alex Russell. In 2020 Sidney transferred to Utah State University to finish her undergraduate studies with Robert Waters, 1st violinist of the Fry Street Quartet. She was also concertmaster and section leader of the Utah State symphony orchestra. Sidney was the winner of Utah State University’s 2021-2022 school of music concerto competition and performed Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy with the Utah State Symphony in April 2022.
Sidney graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in violin performance in the spring of 2022. Sidney went on to obtain a masters degree in violin performance and pedagogy from the University of Utah where she was a member of the University’s graduate string quartet and a full scholarship recipient. While at the University of Utah she studied with Dr. Hasse Borup and members of the Utah Symphony and graduated Suma Cum Laude. Sidney is currently pursuing a doctorate in violin performance at the University of Colorado Boulder as a full scholarship recipient and teaching assistant under the tutelage of Dr. Andrea Segar.
Sidney has been a private violin teacher for the past 10 years, as well as viola for the last 5 and hopes to become a college professor after graduation, as well as always maintain a private studio and to perform wherever and whenever she can.
Get to know Sidney
Where are you from?
Roseburg/Hermiston, Oregon
How did you first get started playing?
My mom has always been a Suzuki violin teacher and was my first teacher.
What’s your favorite thing about playing your instrument?
I love listening to music more than anything then getting to bring it life on my instrument.
What do you like to do outside of music?
I love to run, bake, and spend time with my husband.
Why is music important to you?
I believe music is such an important part of the world and crucial to making others happy and bringing others together. The connections we can make through music are immeasurable.