We were lucky to catch up with Jean Watson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jean , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I attended a summer music festival called “Tanglewood” in Massachusetts, which is the summer home of the Boston Symphony. After 8 weeks of intensive musical training surrounded by the finest musicians in the world, I knew that music would be my life’s work.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in a musical family and started playing the violin when I was seven. By the time I was in high school I knew that I wanted music to be my career, and in those days, I pictured myself playing in a big city symphony and perhaps teaching at a university. Now I am so glad that my dreams for myself didn’t come to pass as I thought they would! I believe that God had much bigger plans for my life.

I studied violin performance at Cincinnati Conservatory, and got a master’s degree in violin performance from Miami University of Ohio. During that time, I also decided to get married and over the next ten years had four children, so music took a back seat in my life while I focused my attention on the family. But, deep down in my heart, I missed performing and wondered if I would ever be able to pursue my musical dreams again.

Unfortunately, my marriage was not easy and eventually ended in divorce. So, there I was feeling like my life was a train wreck and I had truly missed the destiny I was made for. One day, In my pain and hopelessness, I prayed that God would help me.

After I prayed, the phone rang and a man asked if my name was “Jean Watson” and if I played the violin. He said he was going through the phone book trying to find me! He explained that he was the “concertmaster” of the local symphony and had heard my name mentioned in a restaurant the night before. He asked to hear me play, and that audition eventually led to a position playing in a professional orchestra! I couldn’t help wondering if that phone call was connected to the prayer I had prayed before picking up the phone.

That Christmas, our landlord brought us a Christmas tree, and as he was bringing it into the house, he heard me singing Christmas carols on a recording I had made as a gift for a friend. He was so moved by the sound of my voice that he sat down, put his head in his hands, and cried!

Then he said, ” I don’t know what you are doing with your life, but that’s what you’re supposed to be doing!” Then he gave me my rent money back and encouraged me to record a full length album in a studio. So I did.

I gave that little album away to anyone who would listen and soon was receiving invitations to sing and speak for local groups. I went on to record more CD’s and eventually was invited to tour England! As I traveled to more and more places, I sang, played the violin and shared the story of how I had cried out to God and very quickly, my life was changing.

People responded to my simple message and I began to hear stories of how my message was encouraging others to believe that change was possible in their lives, as well! Eventually I began doing prison ministry and traveling full-time in the US, the UK and Ireland, performing and sharing this message of hope and transformation.

Over the years, my music became more sophisticated. I worked with several producers in Nashville and was honored to record with symphonies and some of the world’s finest musicians! I am currently releasing my twelfth studio album and am so thankful for this amazing journey – not just of entertaining audiences but of inspiring people to believe that God has a purpose and a plan for all of us if we are willing to embrace it.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

To make a living as a creative, I believe that flexibility and a willingness to learn new things are essential! Over the years, I have had to be willing to widen my horizons from being strictly a classical violinist. I learned how to write and arrange my own music and how to be an effective solo performer in Contemporary Christian music. To pay bills, I learned how to teach and over the years taught many voice, violin, and piano lessons. I still play classical music in the symphony from time to time, but my main emphasis now is on writing, recording and performing my own stuff.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a musician is watching the music move peoples’ hearts. Music can heal, restore and change the atmosphere of the heart without going through the brain. I have had several people request to listen to my music as they were actively dying. What greater purpose could I fulfill than to have my voice accompany a soul to heaven!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jeanwatson.com
• Instagram: @jeanwatsonmusic
• Facebook: Facebook.com/jeanwatsonmusic
• Youtube: @jeansviolin

Image Credits
Valerie Ott, Micah Hill