Bon Jovi's Secret Weapon – Syracuse University

The Scorchio Quartet was born from a collaboration in 2001 with David Bowie at Carnegie Hall. Following work on its Pagan album, the electro-acoustic group began fielding offers from other luminaries, such as Lou Reed '64; Reed's wife, Laurie Anderson; Philippe Glass; Patti Smith; and Trey Anastasio of Phish.

Although the band members are classically trained, they consider themselves “multi-style musicians” who perform with non-classical artists. Their nickname is equally ambiguous. British for “extremely hot” Scorchio also refers to the artistic technique of foreshortening, creating the illusion of depth.

For all the excitement surrounding the group, this represents only part of Ponce's multifaceted career, the seeds of which were planted at the venerable Setnor School of Music at Syracuse's College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Initially enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, Ponce discovered that conservatory life was not for her. “I went to the Aspen Music Festival [and School] in Colorado, where a friend told me about Syracuse,” she recalls. The promise of a generous string scholarship, which included playing with the Syracuse Symphony, seemed too good to be true.

“University allowed me to finish my violin studies and prepare for a career in rock,” says the former music student, who in her spare time studied classical singing and transcribed guitar solos. by Clapton and Hendrix. “I learned jazz improvisation, electronic music and audio engineering from remarkable teachers.”