About

Hello! I’m Julia, a cellist and educator. Music for me is a way of opening our ears in three significant ways—to hear what our internal selves need to flourish, to listen to the needs of those around us, and to intuit what the world calls for. Listening well, then responding appropriately with technical ease is the hard work of a musician.

I live in Eugene, Oregon, and I am a section member with the Eugene Symphony and principal of the Oregon Mozart Players. Previous orchestral experience includes the Toho Orchestra Academy in Japan and the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado. As a chamber musician, I performed with Trio Eudaemonia at the International Music Workshop and Festival in Germany. I played with Ladies of the Desert String Quartet in a Beethoven quartet seminar coached by Kirsten Docter and Sibbi Bernhardsson. With an Oberlin string quartet, I performed concerts at schools in Jordan. Chamber music festivals include Bowdoin International Music Festival, NextFest, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Orford Music Academy, and Center Stage Strings.

Research I’ve done has revolved around understanding spaces and community aspects of music-making. I presented research about French salon culture at York University’s “Musicking in Uncertain Times” symposium and received a McGill grant to co-create a symposium with Rebekah Dennis, called “Dialogues in Performance.“

The instrument I play on is by Fabienne Gauchet, a maker in Montreal, Canada. I’m reminded daily that my ability to play it is because of the lifelong work and privileges of a Texas labor union lawyer and a Japanese Buddhist priest. These questions run on loop in the back of my mind: How can I tell the stories my ancestors would want to be told? How can I give voice to those who need it? How can I play into the void and make the world a tiny bit better?

I messily search for answers because somehow I am a person who was gifted a beautiful cello and years of many patient mentors’ attempts at technical explanations.

I am happy to guide, collaborate or play for those interested. Write me a message if you feel so inclined. I would be delighted to hear from you.