Allison Cotilla, Second Violin
I grew up on Long Island, and started playing violin there at the age of 9. My school didn't have the best orchestra program, and I had more teachers than I can name up through high school, but still I continued playing and took some private lessons in high school. Then I took a break from violin to go to college and get my engineering degree, but I would still pick it up from time to time to play for fun. But I always thought about playing in an orchestra again. In January of 2007, just after finishing my second masters in engineering, I decided it was time to pick it up again. I auditioned for and got into the North Shore Symphony Orchestra on Long Island, and I started taking private lessons again so I could improve. I've been taking private lessons every since, and am very much enjoying the musical journey that they are taking me on. I play much better than I ever did in high school, and I am continually improving.
In June of 2009 I moved to Columbia, MD to take a job at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. After playing in a few other local community orchestras, I am happy to now be playing in the Columbia Orchestra. I find it to be a challenging and fun group to play with.
When I am not playing music or working at my day job as a Systems Engineer, I enjoy staying involved with my other passions. I am very passionate about turtles and tortoises, their proper care and conservation. I am on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society and I have 9 turtles and tortoises of my own. I enjoy using them for education, teaching children and adults about proper turtle and tortoise care. I've traveled to Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands to volunteer with turtle and tortoise conservation. I also enjoy running and I regularly run at the Saturday morning bagel runs with the Howard County Striders. In October of 2011 I ran my first half marathon to raise money to support the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. I also like volunteering, reading and hiking. When I am home I enjoy spending time with my husband Fred, our bird Percy and our German Shepherd puppy, Leo.
