Hometown:
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Education:
Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, Bachelor of Music (2026)
Bio:
Lola Gehman is a senior viola performance student at the Crane School of Music and a section violist in the Orchestra of Northern New York. Her pride and joy are her viola students, ranging in age from 8 to 16 years old. She was a concerto competition finalist at Eastern Music Festival in 2024 and attended the National Orchestral Institute in 2025. Her teachers include Shelly Tramposh and Kerry Harker-Roth.
What inspired you to become a musician?
My high school orchestra teacher gave me a new appreciation for music and supported me in all of my performing endeavors. My sophomore year, we went on a field trip to see the Philadelphia Orchestra, and I remember him turning around during the viola solo in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and whispering, “That’s going to be you someday!”
Name your favorite composers and/or pieces:
Gustav Mahler has to be my all-time favorite. As a violist, I think I have the best seat in the house for a Mahler symphony – in the middle of all of the sound!
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
Last year, I had the opportunity to join my college’s mariachi band, Mariachi Los Osos del Norte – as a guitarrón player!
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
Recently, knitting – especially sweaters, and preferably over a cup of coffee and/or with my dog in my lap.
Why did you choose the NRO?
My teacher attended the NRO, and I want to be just like her! Aside from that, I love that NRO is orchestra-focused, because orchestra is my favorite outlet for making music, and I would like to get better at learning lots of repertoire quickly. I am aiming to become a career orchestral musician, and I feel like there is no better place to prepare for that environment than the NRO.