Joshua Roman, Cello

Biography

Dubbed a “Classical Rock Star” by the press, cellist Joshua Roman was named a 2011 TED Fellow, joining a select group of Next Generation innovators of unusual accomplishments with the potential to positively affect the world.  

In recent seasons Mr. Roman has made his debut as a concerto soloist with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Herbert Blomstedt, with the Seattle Symphony, where he gave the world premiere of David Stock’s Cello Concerto, and with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris as soloist and conductor.  He has performed duos with Yo-Yo Ma at the State Department, at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway, and New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival in a pre-concert recital at Avery Fisher Hall.  In 2009 Mr. Roman was the only guest artist invited to play an unaccompanied solo during the YouTube Symphony Orchestra’s debut concert at Carnegie Hall.

Among this season’s highlights, Mr. Roman is guest artist for the Seattle Symphony’s opening night gala, makes his Toronto Symphony debut, performs at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament and City Center’s “Fall for Dance” Festival with Lil Buck in New York City, and is presented in recital by San Francisco Performances. Mr. Roman is Artistic Director of TownMusic in Seattle where he creates programs that feature new works and reflect the eclectic range of his musical influences and inspirations.

In addition to his solo work, Mr. Roman is an active chamber music performer.  He has enjoyed collaborations with veterans like Earl Carlyss, Christopher Taylor and Christian Zacharias, as well as the Seattle Chamber Music Society, Caramoor Festival, La Jolla Summerfest, and the International Festival of Chamber Music in Lima, Peru. He was for two seasons principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, a position he won in 2006 at the age of 22.  Mr. Roman is grateful for the loan of an 1899 cello by Giulio Degani of Venice.