Concertmaster: Jennifer Matsuura
My winding path through music begins by being born into musical family. Both my brother and I began playing piano at a young age. I was encouraged to choose an additional instrument at ~8 yrs. I chose the cello. My parents wisely suggested the violin, concerned with the lugging of a large instrument. Thusly I became a reluctant violinist which I unsuccessfully tried to quit playing at least twice, if not more.
After years of lackadaisical efforts to play the violin, it slowly grew on me and I found myself loving playing so much that decided I couldn’t live life without the violin. I auditioned and was accepted into music school and chose the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
My last two years at Oberlin I started taking jazz improv as an elective which prompted intense listening and practicing jazz, eventually leading to the realization that I couldn’t live without studying jazz. So I petitioned the Conservatory to allow me to add a jazz studies major to my violin performance major. They agreed and I earned the first jazz violin degree given at Oberlin. I also started composing and arranging jazz and classical pieces during this period.
After Oberlin I returned home to Colorado burnt out and most definitely broke. So I started doing landscape care while playing with many excellent local jazz musicians. I started really digging on plants and yes that’s right, I decided I couldn’t live life without plants. Back to school I went for a BS in Horticulture Business Management at CSU. I played in the area orchestras to help pay for my repeated forays into college.
I have been profoundly influenced by the teachings of many stellar musicians. I have had the honor of performing across many genres with excellent musicians/groups. I would love to give props to all of them, but there are far too many to list here.
Arguably one of my more rational realizations is that I will always be trying to balance the passions of my life. After letting my violin silently weep in the case for ~5 years while focusing on a horticulture career, my heart has since demanded that I find a way back into making music. I am glad to have found a group of enthusiastic and open-hearted musicians in the Health and Wellness Orchestra. I also have a jazz ensemble in the works and we are excited to perform a benefit concert for the HWO in the fall of 2025.
After years of lackadaisical efforts to play the violin, it slowly grew on me and I found myself loving playing so much that decided I couldn’t live life without the violin. I auditioned and was accepted into music school and chose the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
My last two years at Oberlin I started taking jazz improv as an elective which prompted intense listening and practicing jazz, eventually leading to the realization that I couldn’t live without studying jazz. So I petitioned the Conservatory to allow me to add a jazz studies major to my violin performance major. They agreed and I earned the first jazz violin degree given at Oberlin. I also started composing and arranging jazz and classical pieces during this period.
After Oberlin I returned home to Colorado burnt out and most definitely broke. So I started doing landscape care while playing with many excellent local jazz musicians. I started really digging on plants and yes that’s right, I decided I couldn’t live life without plants. Back to school I went for a BS in Horticulture Business Management at CSU. I played in the area orchestras to help pay for my repeated forays into college.
I have been profoundly influenced by the teachings of many stellar musicians. I have had the honor of performing across many genres with excellent musicians/groups. I would love to give props to all of them, but there are far too many to list here.
Arguably one of my more rational realizations is that I will always be trying to balance the passions of my life. After letting my violin silently weep in the case for ~5 years while focusing on a horticulture career, my heart has since demanded that I find a way back into making music. I am glad to have found a group of enthusiastic and open-hearted musicians in the Health and Wellness Orchestra. I also have a jazz ensemble in the works and we are excited to perform a benefit concert for the HWO in the fall of 2025.