Musicians at Play

Five Pacific Symphony string section musicians have some rather unexpected hobbies.

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Playing an instrument is serious business, particularly when your business is making a living as a classical musician. It takes hours of practice and intense dedication to perform at the level necessary for joining a professional ensemble such as Orange County’s own Pacific Symphony, the third largest orchestra in California. v Between rehearsing and a performance schedule that includes nearly 100 concerts a year, many musicians would be content to spend their leisure time curled up with a good book or chilling out in front of the TV. However, there are those who use spare hours to pursue diverse hobbies – hobbies that might have become full-time careers had music not caught their interest first.

Photos by Ralph Palumbo

Fiddling with Hockey: Robert Schumitzky

It’s noon on a typical Monday, but lunchtime is anything but typical for violinist Robert Schumitzky. Instead of grabbing a sandwich, Schumitzky is hitting the ice at a Westminster ice rink, where he plays hockey four days a week with notable retired pros and top college players. “I started playing hockey in grade school,” recalls the St. Louis native. “During the winter months we would skate on frozen ponds. I started getting involved with organized hockey in high school, and after college, played in a semi-pro league.”

Despite his obvious affinity for hockey, a love for music – and the violin – came first. Hockey, however, followed close behind. “My first musical job was with the Columbus Symphony, so I went to Ohio State University, which has a top college team, and they let me practice with them to keep my skills up,” says Schumitzky, who has always found a place to play hockey no matter where his musical career takes him. “During the summer months, a lot of NHL players that live out in southern California skate with us in Westminster to keep in shape.”

Keeping in shape is important to Schumitzky, but so is keeping safe. Because a violinist depends on skillful fingers to negotiate a fret board, Schumitzky says people frequently ask him about potential injuries to his hands. “Anyone who plays hockey at a high level does over time get injured, but I have never hurt my hands – although I have broken my nose and had a few cuts and bruises,” says Schumitzky. “I try to be careful and protect myself as well as possible, but it is a physical game. I don’t really know how to address it.”

Schumitzky is more comfortable addressing the synergistic relationship between shooting pucks and plucking strings. “Whether you are playing the violin or playing sports, you have your own individual skills that you constantly improve upon and perfect,” explains Schumitzky. “You are also part of a team that works together. It’s the same approach with similar preparation. Of course, it’s much different standing off stage waiting to play versus being ready to step out on the ice, but still you have those same nervous feelings of not wanting to make any mistakes. And you’re always striving to improve. That’s where individual practice time with the violin, or early practice on the ice, comes in. However, you never reach the point where you are completely satisfied.”  

Photos by Ralph Palumbo

Flush with Talent: Paul Zibits and Kimiyo Takeya

The sound of poker chips landing on a table is music to the ears of bass player Paul Zibits and his wife, violinist Kimiyo Takeya. This harmonious duo make classical music their profession, but when they’re not performing in concerts they’re bringing home some serious cash by playing poker at local casinos.

“I’ve been playing poker semi-professionally for about 12 years,” says Zibits, whose poker prowess has propelled him to a slew of impressive victories, including a “final table” at the World Series of Poker. “Poker is a lot of fun. It’s very exciting, and also very draining. You have to keep your mind going constantly. It’s like playing a Mahler symphony. Every few bars, there’s a new twist.”

Zibits got his first real taste of casino-style card games during a stint playing electric bass for pop artists Captain and Tennille. Frequent Las Vegas gigs led to a semi-professional blackjack hobby that eventually shifted to poker. His wife Kimiyo got hooked on poker after playing for fun with fellow orchestra musicians at one of Zibits’ monthly poker parties. She quickly learned the basics and, after a few tips from her husband, started playing in earnest. “She’s a fabulous poker player,” Zibits says proudly. “She even placed fifth in a Ladies of Poker tournament.”

Zibits says music and poker may seem like odd companions, but they actually have a lot in common. “To be a good poker player, you have to have a lot of discipline. It’s the same with music,” explains Zibits. “You have to study and practice and spend many hours on your game, as you do with your instrument. When you first start playing poker or playing an instrument, you learn a lot of technical aspects. Poker is a very deep game – you can spend your whole life trying to improve, which I easily relate to music.”

In case anyone doubts Zibits’ zest for poker, a visit to his Web site, www.Ichibanpoker.com, confirms it. “Ichiban means first, number one, or the best,” says Zibits. Whether it’s betting a hand or bowing their strings, Zibits and his wife are indeed constantly striving to be the best.

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