The Unconservatory Festival Orchestra

Ken Blacklock & Katy Bridges

both play the violin and speak Japanese, but not at the same time. They met in a Japanese class in Tokyo when they were learning how to say, "My hobby is playing the violin" in Japanese. They both come from musical families and have played in several orchestras over the years.

Although their musical interests and backgrounds are diverse, they both currently play in a bluegrass band together and frequently compete in old-time fiddle contests.

They have finished in the top ten at state, regional, and national contests, including a second place finish in the twin fiddle division of the California State Old Time Fiddle Contest.

They lived in Japan from 1990 through 1993 and again from 1998 through 2000. In 1995, they both became full-time Japanese translators and started a translation business, Virtual Success. Katy still translates full-time, and Ken currently spends his days teaching music in grades 6 to 8 at two different schools and also maintains a busy private studio. Ken and Katy have a four-year old daughter who was born in Japan. She plays a 1/16th size violin.

Ken & Katy can be heard swinging together on two violins in this excerpt:

J.S. Bach Concerto in D Minor, mvt. 1 / arr: Ken Blacklock

Contact information:

Ken Blacklock & Katy Bridges

31 S. 40 Pier

Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 331-9661

ken@vsuccess.com

Ken and Katy ponder a passage in rehearsal.

The Unconservatory Home Page

Disclaimer, Copyright Statement and Editorial Policies

For inquiries email: webmaster@vsuccess.com