Violinist, Julian Ross, is an uncommonly versatile artist. Ross has appeared as soloist with orchestras and wind ensembles in performances ranging from Baroque and Romantic concerti to premieres of newly commissioned works. His chamber music collaborations have kindled insightful interpretations of traditional and new repertoire, championed neglected works by underrepresented composers, and programmed forgotten gems such as those by Amanda Maier, Ethel Smyth, and Jazz great, Joe Venuti. As member of Baldwin Wallace Conservatory’s resident ensembles, the Elysian Trio and Lyceum², Ross performed over 125 varied programs. Ross has toured the U.S. and abroad with the Arcadia Trio, the Boston Musical Arts Consortium, the Music from Yellow Barn Tours, and the Memphis Piano Quartet. He was honored to appear as soloist, recitalist, and lecturer for the “Violins of Hope” exhibition in Cleveland, Ohio.
Ross has had opportunities to perform numerous solo and chamber works under the supervision of their composers. Among these are compositions by Don Freund, Stefan Freund, William Bolcom, John Cage, Chen Yi, John Harbison, Krzysztof Penderecki, Robert Patterson, Philip Glass, Loris Chobanian, John Corigliano, Joseph Schwantner, Christopher Theofanidis, and Charles Wuorinen. In addition, Ross’s own original compositions and arrangements have been received warmly by audiences and his pedagogic materials are increasingly being adopted by teachers.
A devoted teacher, Ross has composed etudes addressing tenacious violinistic problems (Four Knotty Violin Studies), a melodically reinforced approach to scale studies (Connecting Some Dots), and a systematic approach to beginning scales (Right from the Start).
Through four decades of performing and teaching chamber music, he has gained unique expertise in teamwork, problem solving, and communication. Ross and his Lyceum² colleague, Robert Mayerovitch, enjoy sharing these ideas and techniques with students and audiences.
Ross served as Professor of Violin and Chair of the String Department at Baldwin Wallace University for 26 years. Other faculty appointments included Memphis State University and Florida State University. Along with welcoming students in his private studio, Ross provides lessons for students through special arrangements with Lakewood High School.
Ross participated in the Yellow Barn Festival for 11 years, and was on the faculties of Brevard, Aria International, Tennessee Governor’s School, and the Blue Mountain Festival. Ross’s students have won competitions, earned leadership positions in professional orchestras, and established themselves on teaching faculties. A past President of the Tennessee String Teachers’ Association, Ross has also served on the board of the Ohio String Teachers’ Association.
Ross earned degrees from Rutgers University, the Eastman School of Music, and the Cincinnati College Conservatory, and he did additional studies at the New England Conservatory. His teachers and mentors have included Arnold Steinhardt, Sylvia Rosenberg, Eric Rosenblith, Jens Ellermann, Fryderyk Sadowski, Gladys Lang, and Isadore Grossman.
Julian Ross "…radiated the glow that comes from musicians who understand very well what they're doing and who are fully committed to communicating that understanding to an audience."
– James Wierzbicki, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"…Julian Ross, in addition to his lovely solo Adagio in the Bach, was a strong presence on the stage all night and led the strings with both discretion and, where necessary, valour."
– Peter Spencer, The New Jersey Star-Ledger
"Their ensemble was impeccable, the cadenzas rhapsodic."
– Paul Somers, The New Jersey Star-Ledger
"Ross, a finely tuned, expressive violinist, turned into an effective partner in music that suggests journeys into the imagination."
– Peter Jacobi, The Herald-Times, Bloomington, IN