Jessica Meyer is a “fierce and lyrical” violist who is known for her expressive “bravura playing” (The Strad). Equally at home with many other styles of music and an ardent collaborator, Jessica can regularly be seen performing on Baroque viola, improvising with jazz musicians, playing chamber music, or collaborating with other composer-performers. As a longtime member of counter)induction and featured guest of many different ensembles, she has premiered and performed many works for solo viola.
As a solo performer, Ms. Meyer uses a single simple loop pedal to create a virtuosic orchestral experience with her viola and voice. Drawing from wide-ranging influences, which include Bach, Brahms, Delta blues, Flamenco, Indian Raga, and Appalachian fiddling, she takes audience members on a journey through joy, anxiety, anger, bliss, torment, loneliness and passion. Her solo shows have been featured at iconic venues such as BAMcafé, Joe’s Pub, and Symphony Space in NYC, the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, in Paris at Sunset Sunside, in addition to venues in Singapore, Switzerland, Vietnam, the Emirates and beyond. As a 25-year veteran Teaching Artist that has worked for Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Juilliard School, Meyer connects with audiences of any background by talking to them about what events or ideas inspired each piece in an engaging way during these interactive performances.
Recent seasons included the premiere of her own viola concerto, “GAEA”, with the League of Composers Orchestra, and headlining the 2024 Primrose International Viola Competition at the American Viola Society Festival with a recital of her own works. She can be seen regularly performing her solo show, in collaboration with others for certain premieres, with Sybarite5, and the Grammy-nominated NOVUS NY ensemble of Trinity Wall Street.
