By Katie Vaughn | Photography By Hillary Schave
Music has always been a passion for Naha Greenholtz and Kyle Knox. It’s what brought them together — even before they became a couple.
Greenholtz, a violinist from Vancouver, and Knox, a clarinetist from New Jersey, first crossed paths in 2002 while playing in a youth orchestra in New York City. Two years later, they were both attending Juilliard, but it wasn’t until they spent six weeks touring in Italy that they connected. Afterward, Knox moved to Los Angeles and Greenholtz returned to New York.
“I sent her an email,” Knox says, “and we started dating long distance.”
Knox visited Greenholtz while in New York for an audition, and when he needed to move to New Jersey for the summer, she helped. “We drove cross-country together,” she says. “That was our second date.”
Their relationship continued, and strengthened, as they moved around for their careers, until they both relocated to Milwaukee. They married in 2009 and in 2012 moved to Madison, where Greenholtz is the concertmaster for the Madison Symphony Orchestra (as well as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra) and Knox is associate conductor of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. (Knox transitioned to conducting following an injury that prevented him from playing the clarinet.)
The communication skills they developed early in their relationship serve them well today as they work together
at the symphony and raise their two young children, Miki and Max. They also draw upon their shared love of music and an understanding of what’s required to succeed in their demanding and competitive field.
“One of the things that most attracted me to him and started our relationship off strong was having similar artistic sensibilities,” Greenholtz says. “That’s just really evolved and deepened as we’ve matured together.”
What do you admire most about your partner?
“She’s an amazing artist. She is a first-class concertmaster and violinist. And she’s incredible with our kids. I learn from her always, especially how to slow down and be present.” – Kyle Knox
