Instrument/Department: Viola, Chamber Music Connection
Joined Hochstein faculty in: 2024
James Marshall has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra viola section since early 2023, and previously performed in the Spokane Symphony Orchestra for five seasons. He is finishing requirements for a Doctorate in Music Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where he also received a Master of Music degree in 2021, studying with Professor Masumi Per Rostad.
Growing up with two professional musicians as parents, James has always had an interest in both performance and teaching, beginning with assisting local school orchestras as a high school student himself. After attending the Interlochen Arts Camp for 10 summers as a student, he returned for two summers as a teaching assistant, working with the middle school students as a chamber coach and sectional teacher. At Eastman, James spent four years as the teaching assistant for Professor Rostad, facilitating studio classes and leading his own technique class for undergraduate students.
In the last few years, James has become particularly interested in early music. He has performed extensively as a member of Eastman’s Collegium Musicum baroque orchestra as a concertmaster, playing Baroque violin, viola, and viola d’amore, as well as with local early music group Publick Musick.
In 2023, he performed in the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concerts with the Collegium Musicum and earned Eastman’s Advanced Certificate in Early Music studies, with mentorship from Professors Paul O’Dette and Christel Thielmann.
More About James Marshall
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
What inspires me: I love looking at visual art from the times of the music I’m playing; seeing a visual representation inspires me just as much as it must have inspired the composers!
Why the arts matter: Art is what makes life worth living. Beyond just being entertainment, art is essential as a form of self-expression, whether through music, visual art, spoken and written word, or acting. We find ways to celebrate our differences and similarities through culture, and art is an integral aspect of our relationships worldwide.
Favorite things to do in Rochester area: I love taking long walks or hikes; lately I’ve been walking on the Genesee Riverway Trail to the beach or hiking in Letchworth State Park.
When I’m not at Hochstein, you can find me: On the stage with the RPO and other local performing groups!
My favorite local restaurant: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Favorite places to travel: Hawaii and Alaska (for opposite seasons!)