Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Lunch with Ernest

This multitalented performer isn't just fiddling around

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published January 6, 2006

Charleene Closshey's life is as diverse as her performances as a violinist, singer and model.

In the past year, Closshey has performed in Handel's Messiah, in the Trans Siberian Orchestra and with Regis Philbin and Susan Lucci at Cypress Gardens.

At the same time, Closshey is vice president of Ideas & Innovations, a business, talent and production consulting firm where her mother, Jennifer, serves as president. The Plant City native and summa cum laude graduate of Florida Southern College also volunteers and mentors a Plant City High School student.

Pull up a chair and join us.

ERNEST: Tell me about your holiday card. It's pretty funny.

CHARLEENE: That's an interesting story. I was doing a photo shoot for some press-release pictures that I needed. I was coming back from Miami and landing in Orlando and my parents were coming back from Atlanta, so we met in Orlando and decided to go ahead and do a big family shoot because they enjoy sending out cards that have a family picture on it for Christmas. I noticed the photographer had a Santa hat - this was not a good thing that I noticed that - and he just started snapping. He probably took about 20 random pictures. When I saw the proofs, I said, "You know, that's pretty good.'' It was just something fun to do.

> What was the reaction from your friends?

They laugh at it. That's me. A lot of people don't get to see that side of me, but that's really who I am. I appreciate fun. I'm very lighthearted. Levity is very important to keeping my sanity. That's me, goofing off.

I notice there is a lot of diversity among your performances. I can't peg you at all.

One of the things I appreciate most about the blessings and opportunities I've received is that they are so diverse. Because frankly, I get bored really easily. It's interesting going from playing Handel's Messiah on a Saturday night to a Trans Siberian rock concert on Sunday afternoon to singing a classical voice recital on Monday. Life is good and it will continue to be. This next year has some interesting things already in the works. I'm playing at Charlie-Palooza at the Ford Amphitheatre at the end of January. I've never experienced the concert, but I'm told it's a sight to behold.

Tell me about that.

You're not as old as I am, so that whole Devil Went Down To Georgia thing may not register with you, but was Charlie Daniels an inspiration when you started playing violin? I know you've performed with him before.

Any time you tell anyone you play the violin, they say, "Can you play Devil Went Down To Georgia?'' Seriously, it's the only question they ask. That and Orange Blossom Special. They don't care if you can play the Bach doubles. So you quickly learn to appreciate the eclectic side of music for whatever it is you play. Charlie Daniels, my father loves his music. I remember listening to it all the time. He would have it in the car. So in a way, yes (he was an inspiration), and I appreciate what he does musically. He's found a niche, marketed it well and had a good time doing it. And he's just a really nice guy.

You've been playing violin since you were 12, which isn't uncommon, but you don't see a lot of kids carry it into their adult life. What's motivated you to keep playing?

Interestingly enough, the only reason I started playing the violin is so I could get out of PE class in sixth grade. It's horrible, but it's true. My parents got me piano lessons when I was 2 - I could read music before I could read words - so music has always been a really important part of my life. About the same time I found the violin, I heard the music from Phantom Of The Opera for the first time, which is my favorite musical. There is not a better musical that has ever been written in the world. So during that time, I would come home every day from school and I would listen to it and start playing the music. It's not easy music by any stretch, and no matter how horrible it probably sounded, it was very beneficial for me. It was pivotal in my music development, but more importantly, it was a release. It's very cathartic. I've stuck with it because it's an outlet for me.

But you didn't major in music. You have degrees in marketing management and exercise science.

I didn't want to major in music because I didn't want to lose that love or that passion for it. When you have to spend 12 hours in a practice room getting ready for a jury, it takes out the love. I saw that happen a lot. Something I love and appreciate in music is its natural imperfections. The little nuances you hear. We always strive for perfection but appreciate the fact that very seldom is it ever achieved.

When does Charleene have time for Charleene?

Sleeping. Actually, I try to keep as much balance as possible.

You sing, play violin, perform in a variety of shows and have dreams of performing on Broadway and being a film star. It's pretty heady for someone who grew up in Plant City.

I have a placard in my window near my desk and it says, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." It's a quote from Henry David Thoreau and that placard is there for a reason. It's a reminder to dream big, live hard and have fun. I try not to get too caught up on "it can't be done' because I believe it can be done. I've always erred on the side of too big, too impossible. What better way to get where you want to be.

DESSERT: A postscript from Ernest

Charleene, 25, will be extremely busy in 2006. She's taken on a creative role in the development of a potential Broadway production that she describes as Cirque du Soleil meets Riverdance meets violin. Currently, she serves on the governor's Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Board. Charleene is single but is dating a fellow violin player. She told me not to say something corny like they're making beautiful music together, but certainly it helps to have that in common. Although she took up violin to avoid PE class, the 2003 Miss Tampa says she eventually developed a holistic approach to life and ended up getting a degree in exercise science. In fact, she was a pudgy 12-year-old who was teased by kids. She didn't really come into her own until college. Boy, I would love to be in the room when she goes back to her high school reunion.

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 08:51:07]