Amy Oshiro-Morales joined the Philadelphia Orchestra’s second violin section in January 2008. She was previously assistant concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony, associate concertmaster chair of the Colorado Symphony, assistant concertmaster of the Grant Park Orchestra.
Oshiro-Morales will perform in Concert 4: A Night of Stark Contrast, Concert 5: Natalie’s Playlist, and Concert 6: Celebrating 37 Years of Musical Excellence
“It is such a privilege to be to be working in the arts,” she says. Humanity always needs the arts–we need outlets of expression, but we also need to enjoy moments of beauty. Artists practice all the time because we want to stay up on our game and keep moving forward, but we’re also always trying to evolve and to become better than what we once were. Every time I practice, I’m always thinking: How beautiful can I make this?” In episode 7 of the Kingston Notes podcast, Oshiro-Morales shares insights into the music she’ll perform — including the only solo violin piece of the entire festival, Eugène Ysaÿe’s Solo Violin Sonata No.3 — why she feels working in the arts is a privilege, and more.
Oshiro-Morales made her debut with the Chicago Symphony at the age of 12 and has appeared numerous times as a soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony, the Napa Valley Symphony, the Minnesota Sinfonia, and others. She has collaborated with such artists as Vadim Repin, Alban Gerhardt, Jason Vieaux, and Gil Shaham. She began violin studies when she was three years old. She studied with Almita and Roland Vamos at Oberlin Conservatory, where she received the Dean’s Talent Award scholarship. She continued her studies at the Juilliard School with Robert Mann, the founder and former first violinist of the Juilliard Quartet.
