AKA: “Tree”

Age: 26

Height: 6’ 7”

Places Lived: Born in Wisconsin, moved to Syracuse and Rochester until my family settled in Northern New Jersey when I was in the fourth grade. Went to Rochester, NY for college and now back in NJ/NYC.

Favorite BoR Song: Probably “Spectrum of the Sky”.

Why? The second buildup in the song where there’s a double solo is always a special moment for me on stage.

Musical Influences: I can’t say I have any specific musical influences that take precedence. However, Metallica, Tool, RATM, Coheed, Death Cab, and Unearth never seem to leave my playlist.

Favorite Cuisine: Any cuisine that allows me to eat a lot of food. I’m seriously not that specific and love just about everything (except mushrooms and olives). Definitely Mexican food when I’m in Texas.

Best Part of Being in BoR: I love how we’re always doing something different. I’m not someone who likes to settle in to a routine, so being able to do new and exciting things all the time is a great thing for me.

Worst Part of Being in BoR: Breaking our instruments all the time.

Activities Outside BoR: Snowboarding, Traveling, Bartending, Skydiving, and riding motorcycles (although I have yet to do so).

What’s in Your Stereo Right Now? Karnivool. The greatest band ever.

BIO

A native of  New Jersey, Patrick Laird graduated in 2007 with a bachelor of music degree and performers certificate distinction from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY as a pupil of Steven Doane.  A recipient of the Howard Hanson and Frank Scholarships at Eastman, Patrick served as Principal Cellist of the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra for his first two years. Former teachers include Clive Greensmith of the Tokyo String Quartet, Amir Eldan, and Qiang Tu of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.  He studied with Orlando Cole and Richard Aaron during two summers at ENCORE and was chosen to participate in the Intensive String Quartet Seminar with the Cavani String Quartet. Patrick has performed in masterclasses with Pamela Frank, Cho-Liang Lin, Ida and Ani Kavafian, Fred Sherry, and Peter Wiley.  He has performed twice at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, including a performance of the Brahms Sextet with Ida Kavafian. In past summers, Patrick has studied with Joel Krosnick, Jerry Grossman, and George Sopkin at the Kneisel Hall summer music Festival in Maine. He has recently been awarded the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School. As an avid composer, Patrick has been writing music for Break of Reality since 2003 and will be traveling to Peru this spring to write a concerto for three celli and orchestra.