Dubbed a “classical rock star” by the press, cellist Joshua Roman has earned a national reputation for performing a diverse repertoire with a commitment to communicating the essence of the music at its most organic level. Before embarking on a solo career, he was for two seasons principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, a position he won in 2006 at the age of 22. In addition to his extensive solo work, Roman is an avid chamber music performer and often joins forces with other dynamic young soloists and performers from New York’s contemporary music scene. In spring 2007, he was named Artistic Director of TownMusic, an experimental chamber music series at Town Hall in Seattle, where he creates programs that feature new works and reflect the eclectic range of his musical influences and inspirations.
Committed to making music accessible to a wider audience, Roman may be found anywhere from a club to a classroom, whether performing jazz, rock, chamber music, or a solo sonata by Bach or Kodály. Roman’s outreach endeavors have taken him to Uganda with his violin-playing siblings, where they played chamber music in schools, HIV/ AIDS centers, and refugee camps, communicating a message of hope through music.
I've met a lot of people who didn't like the pretension of the concert hall or the way they talk on the classical radio station, but I've never met anyone who, when in their own comfortable situation, heard classical music and didn't like something about it.”