Classical “Rock Star”: Joshua Roman

The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Music Director and Conductor Kirk Muspratt welcome the public to enjoy “Joshua Roman Plays Dvořák.” The concert will take place March 11 at 7:30 p.m. at The Auditorium at Bethel Church in Crown Point.

Dubbed a “Classical Rock Star” by the press, 26-year-old cellist Joshua Roman has earned a national reputation for being “a musician of imagination and expressive breadth.” Roman began playing at age 3 and has since performed around the world from San Francisco to Peru, New York to Uganda. At age 22 he became the principal cellist for the Seattle Symphony. Roman was named a Symphony Magazine Artist on the Verge in 2010.

Roman appeared with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in March 2009 and was selected as the only musician to deliver a solo performance for the evening, which has been viewed more than 1.5 million times on YouTube.

Roman’s solo moment playing Bach Cello Suite at the sold-out event was preceded by a video introduction by one of his mentors, Yo-Yo Ma, who said, “Occasionally I get to meet an extraordinary young musician. Roman is deeply grounded in a classical tradition and he is a fearless explorer of our world.”

Roman also recently performed with Yo-Yo Ma at the State Department lunch for Chinese President Hu Jintao.

“Josh is simply the best. You are going to go crazy over him – I promise you,” Muspratt said. “After intermission we give you your most requested favorites…a wonderful showcase for our orchestra.”

Other pieces to be performed are the overture to Glinka’s Russlan & Ludmilla, the overture to Verdi’s La forza del destino, Sibelius’ patriotic Finlandia, Abreu’s fan favorite Tico Tico no Fuba and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance no.1 with the Symphony Chorus.

Tickets are $20-$60 with student tickets available for $10. Pick 3 Subscriptions are still available.

Roman will also conduct a masterclass on March 10 at The Auditorium at Bethel Church from 4-6pm. The event is free and open to all students. Call the Symphony office to reserve a space.

Additionally, the Symphony is hosting their third annual Orchestras Feeding America food drive to benefit the Northwest Indiana Food Bank. Donations can be brought to the Symphony Offices at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster through April 11 or dropped off at Bethel Church on March 11 or April 8 at the next two Symphony concerts.

Bethel Church is located at 10202 Broadway in Crown Point. For more information or to order tickets for “Joshua Roman Plays Dvořák,” call the Symphony office at 219-836-0525 or visit www.nisorchestra.org.