NewMusic

Gloria Justen, Violin

Gloria Justen, Violinist and Composer, is both a passionate performer of the classics and an innovative artist trying new approaches to music. Ms. Justen grew up in Houston, Texas, and from 1984-1990 she attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Her principal violin teachers were Fredell Lack and Szymon Goldberg. Ms. Justen has played with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia since 1985, and she now serves as Concertmaster. She performs and tours internationally with the Philadelphia Orchestra as a substitute violinist. A frequent performer with contemporary music groups in Philadelphia such as Network for New Music, Orchestra 2001, and the Relache Ensemble, she has premiered and recorded many works by living composers. Ms. Justen has enjoyed collaborations with musicians from diverse backgrounds, modern dancers and visual artists, and she has been a frequent performer at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Improvisation in various genres spurred her to create her own compositions. Some of these are written in the traditional manner, and others are sound collages created on computer incorporating electronics, field recordings, and surround sound concepts. Ms. Justen is currently dividing her time between the East Coast and San Francisco.