Joshua Roman, Cellist

Date: Sunday, March 13, 2016

Location: Church of our Saviour

Time: 4:00pm

Joshua Roman, one of the most outstanding cellist of his generation, has earned an international reputation for his wide-ranging repertoire, a commitment to communicating the essence of music in visionary ways, artistic leadership and versatility. As well as being a celebrated performer, he is recognized as an accomplished composer, curator, and programmer.

In a multifaceted 2015-16 season, Roman will premiere his own Cello Concerto with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. In April 2016, he begins a residency with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Roman premiered this work with Seattle Symphony in 2014, and will perform it with various orchestras throughout the 2015-16 season. He will pursue his artistic vision as Artistic Director of TownMusic at Town Hall Seattle.  He also continues to perform classics of the repertoire, and in February makes his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra playing Dvorák’s beloved Cello Concerto.

Highlights of recent seasons have included appearances with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Tucson Symphony, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. His outreach endeavors have taken him to Uganda with his violin-playing siblings, where they played chamber music in schools, HIV/AIDS centers, and displacement camps, communicating a message of hope through music.

Roman spent two seasons as principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, a position he won in 2006 at the age of 22. Since that time he has appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, Alabama Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Ecuador, among many others. An active chamber musician, Roman has collaborated with established artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center among others in the vibrant New York music world.

A native of Oklahoma City, Roman began playing the cello at the age of three, and gave his first public recital at age ten. He pursued his musical studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Richard Aaron, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance in 2004, and his Master’s in 2005, as a student of Desmond Hoebig, former principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra.

“…the audience quickly fell in love with his musical intensity, good looks, and tousled hair.”—Huffington Post 2012

“He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma and may succeed him as the most famous cellist of the next generation.”  —Des Moines Register 2012