Jessie Morozov | Violin II

Tell us about your musical journey. How did it begin, and what led you to where you are today?
I grew up surrounded by classical music. I began piano at five and violin at six, after my mom and I met my first teacher, Tana Bachman-Bland, while she was playing Bach on the street. I was not immediately drawn to the violin, but around age twelve, I began taking it seriously. Hearing Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 was a turning point; it made me fall in love with orchestral music.

Years of practicing also taught me to enjoy working through difficult problems. That habit now shapes not only my life as a musician, but also my work in mathematics and machine learning. It’s also given me the inability to listen to music without subconsciously analyzing the harmonies.

Why did you choose the violin, and what drew you to the instrument?
I chose the violin by exclusion, at first. The piano had too many notes, the cello was too hard to carry, and the trumpet (inspired by the older brother I parroted) was too abrasive. As I grew older, however, I kept choosing the violin because of its expressive range. In one moment, it can sound almost like a human voice; in the next, it can dance through fast, virtuosic passages. Few instruments shift between those roles so naturally.

What has your experience been like as a member of the Symphony?
Some moments still feel somewhat surreal, like the finale of Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances on our Sunday matinée concert last season, but much of the experience feels surprisingly natural. I enjoy watching a week of rehearsals develop into a performance. Each musician arrives with an individual part and interpretation, but the goal is to listen closely enough that those parts become one musical voice.

Did you have experience with the Symphony growing up through any of its education programs?
Yes. I attended Symphony Day as a fourth grader and performed as a soloist in The Four Seasons through the education program. Returning now as a member of the orchestra has made me appreciate how a single educational experience can become part of a much longer journey.

What are you most looking forward to this season, both as a musician and as an educator?
As a musician, I look forward to bringing another season to life alongside colleagues I learn from every week. As an educator, I hope to show students that musical growth comes from curiosity, careful listening, and the willingness to keep improving.

If you had to describe the value of music education to someone who has never experienced it, what would you say?
Music education teaches you how to work toward something that cannot be mastered overnight. You learn to notice small details, respond to other people, recover from mistakes, and find satisfaction in gradual improvement. Those lessons remain useful throughout life.

“Music has the power to…”
Music has the power to evoke emotions we didn’t know we needed to feel.

Why is it important that every child has the opportunity to experience live orchestral music in school or in a concert hall?
A live orchestra shows students what people can accomplish when dozens of individuals listen to one another and work toward a shared goal. There is also a physical dimension. The resonance, movement, and scale of the sound cannot be fully reproduced through a screen.

What would our community lose if children no longer had access to live music education and performances?
We would lose an important place where young people learn patience, discipline, creativity, and belonging. We would also weaken a tradition that connects people across generations, backgrounds, and experiences.

When you look into an audience and see children attending their first concert, what do you think, and what do you hope they take away from that experience?
I hope one of them hears something that sparks a lasting curiosity. Perhaps they leave wanting to attend another concert, pick up an instrument, learn the story behind a piece, or simply listen more closely to the world around them. Thank you to all the parents for their support and patience in the rough early learning stage.

If you could speak directly to a fourth grader attending Symphony Day this year, what would you tell them?
Listen with an open mind. You don’t have to understand everything immediately; let the music take you somewhere unexpected.

If you could thank the donors who make these education programs possible, what would you say?
Thank you for giving students access to experiences they might not otherwise have. A single concert, lesson, or encounter with an instrument can influence a child’s interests for years. Your support makes those moments possible.

Is there a story, moment, or experience from your work as a musician that demonstrates why this work matters?
While I was performing with my French jazz quintet at a winter lights festival, a young child ran toward the stage and began vocalizing with the music. Afterward, the child’s parents told us that he was autistic, did not typically speak, and had never responded to music that way before. I have never forgotten that moment.

I have also seen music reach people later in life while performing in retirement homes and memory-care communities. Residents who had seemed withdrawn became visibly engaged, and some began sharing memories their families had not heard in years.

Those experiences showed me that music can reach people when spoken language cannot. That is why the Symphony’s education and community programs matter: they create opportunities for connection at every stage of life.