Renée Jolles

Renée Jolles is a Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, renowned for her eclectic career as a soloist and chamber artist spanning Baroque to contemporary styles. She holds the Wegman Family Professor of Violin chair and has premiered hundreds of works, including Schnittke’s Violin Concerto No. 2 (American premiere). Her affiliations include the Jolles Duo, Continuum, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and multiple international festivals.

• BM and MM from Juilliard

Her research interests revolve around violin pedagogy, historical performance practices, and contemporary composition integration. She has been featured in live broadcasts from Carnegie Hall and recordings on labels like Deutsche Grammaphon and New World. Jolles’ performances often intersect with themes of cultural remembrance, exemplified by her founding of Eastman’s Holocaust Remembrance Concert series.

• Recipient of Eastman’s Eisenhart Award (2019)
• William Schuman Prize (Juilliard Masters graduation)

She has taught at Juilliard’s Pre-College Division, Mannes School of Music, and Queens College, and serves as summer faculty at Bowdoin International Music Festival and Portland Bach Festival. Her adjudication roles include competitions like Washington International and Walgreens National Concerto Competition.