Rochelle Pearson was a violist in America’s Orchestral Academy, The New World Symphony, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, which traveled extensively throughout Europe, Israel, and South America. They recorded the CD "Tangazo," which was nominated for a Grammy. While there she received private viola lessons and master classes from Robert Vernon, Victoria Chiang, Ellen Rose, Lisa Boyko, Yitzhak Schotten, and Lynne Ramsey. In her youth, she played in the Portland Youth Philharmonic, which played a joint anniversary concert with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. She received her M.M. in Music Performance and graduated (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Akron where she received a full scholarship to study with Andrew Jennings (violin), Alan Bodman (viola), and Stephen Majeske (violin) of the Cleveland Orchestra. Rochelle is currently on the string faculty at the Wausau Conservatory of Music and assistant principal violist with the Central Wisconsin Symphony. She was a member of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. She resides in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with her husband Tom. Her son Benjamin is a cellist at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
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