We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andrea Levine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, thanks for joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I am incredibly happy as a business owner. I’m the kind of person who needs to be in control and set my own rules. I had a “real job” as an intern when I was in college, and I absolutely hated it. I was constantly pushing boundaries, creating my own projects, and challenging my boss! As a musician, I’m used to a non-traditional schedule, so starting my own business was a natural transition.

Occasionally, I do wonder what it would be like to have a traditional 9-to-5 job—especially after working non-stop for a month or facing a particularly stressful challenge. But the moment I picture myself commuting to an office every day, I feel immediately restricted. I love being the visionary, setting the rules, and having the freedom to make changes when something isn’t working. I realized that I’m not someone who can comfortably follow instructions that don’t resonate with me or that I feel aren’t the right path forward.

Andrea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Andrea Levine, and I am the owner and lead violinist at Miss Musique—a Philadelphia-based collective of musicians specializing in dynamic, modern string quartet performances. I’ve been playing the violin since I was six, so music is not just what I do; it’s who I am. While I was earning my Master’s in Violin Performance at Carnegie Mellon University, I realized that I wanted to be more than “just” a violinist. I envisioned a company that would be the best in its class, catering to a modern audience.

With my entrepreneurial spirit and talent for business development, starting my own business felt like a natural step. Over the past 12 years, Miss Musique has thrived because of our high musical standards and flexibility to meet each client’s unique needs. Strings and guitar? We can do it. A duo of electric violins? Absolutely. An all-female ensemble dressed in white? No problem.

I’m incredibly proud of the legacy Miss Musique has achieved—hundreds of satisfied clients who rave about our performances, and numerous awards won, including “Best of The Knot,” “Wedding Wire,” and “Zola”.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It took me a while to redefine what success means to me. For a long time, I thought success was solely about how well I played the violin—whether I aced an audition or performed a symphony flawlessly. When you’ve been in violin lessons since age six, your milestones revolve around great lessons, perfect juries (music school’s equivalent of final exams), being chosen for masterclasses, and winning auditions.

It took time for me to understand that being a business owner is not only a valid path but perhaps even more fulfilling. Running a successful business for 12 years while still playing the violin has, in many ways, given me a greater sense of achievement than I could have envisioned as only a performing violinist.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Lead by example. I act in a way that I hope my team will follow. I strive to create a positive, lighthearted environment, constantly encouraging my team and giving them sincere feedback. Even when I provide constructive criticism, I frame it in a way that helps them understand it’s for the greater good and improvement.

I also believe in paying competitively. To keep the best team members, they need to feel valued, and compensation is a big part of that. Especially in a service-based business where my team is the product, it’s crucial that they feel appreciated. When team members feel undervalued, it shows in their performance, which ultimately reflects poorly on the business as a whole.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.missmusique.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmus1que/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissMus1que/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@M1ssMusique

Image Credits

Tree of Life Films and Photos
Redfield Photography
Haley Richter Photography
Kimberly Hidore Photography
Emily Wren Photography