JOSH HOLRITZ – VIOLINIST

CS: What groups do you currently perform with?

JH: I am the acting concertmaster for the Chattanooga Symphony and the concertmaster for the Huntsville Symphony in Alabama. I am also an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Covenant College, and Southern Adventist University.

CS: How did you get into the performing arts?

JH: When I was about 5, I saw someone at a performance playing violin, and my mom recalls that I immediately began tugging on her shirt and saying, “I gotta play that!” My parents both played music, though not professionally, so I grew up listening to classical music, and this was sort of a natural transition.

CS: What is the No. 1 thing you enjoy about performing?

JH: I’m sharing time and space with an audience, and within that time and space we’re all going to experience a piece of art, both visually and aurally, and that is really a cool thing. I also enjoy the connection that I feel with the audience and their energy. I often perform in more intimate settings, and sometimes the front row is so close they could practically turn my pages. That audience interaction and being able to share some of the greatest pieces that were ever written for the violin is really exciting for me.

CS: In your opinion, what makes a good performer?

JH: To be an effective performer, you need to have effective tools.

If your technique is on point, you can play anything, and you can communicate any way you want to. Beyond mastering the craft, I think a great performer is someone who is generous and empathetic. Some people get into performing for their own ego, but the great soloists and musicians that I’ve worked with are very generous in sharing something that the audience will never forget and also sharing with other colleagues on stage.

CS: What has been your favorite role or performance, and why?

JH: Usually the concerts that stick out to me are the ones in which I’m performing with close friends or performers who inspire me, or when the energy between the audience and performers is really strong. But last fall, I performed with one of my former teachers and four of my own students, and that was one of the most impactful moments for me. Seeing the impact of a lifetime of teaching and performing and these connections that we’ve formed was very special.

CS: What are some common misconceptions people have about the performing arts?

JH: The idea that “you play so well because you’re so talented.” While there are certain aspects that make it easier to play – like being physically coordinated and having good body awareness – at some point, every performer has to work really hard.