Vanessa Moss
Vanessa Moss is a tenacious performer, educator, and orchestral leader who has built a diverse musical career. Born and raised in the Northwest, she holds leadership roles across Washington state. Ms. Moss serves as concertmaster of the Walla Walla and Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestras and as violinist with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. She is also the founder and Artistic Director of Sempre Chamber Music, a repertory ensemble of chamber musicians performing in the inland Northwest.
As a recitalist, Ms. Moss’s recent programs include Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor, Brahms’ Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Franck’s Violin Sonata. She has appeared as concerto soloist performing Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending, Astor Piazzola’s Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons) concerti, and Saint-Saëns’ La Muse et la Poète Duo Concerto for Violin and Cello. Her performances have been award-winning, placing 2nd at the MTNA National Chamber Music Competition in NYC and winning CWU’s Achievement in Live Performance.
Vanessa enjoys any opportunity to travel and share music with new friends on stage and off. She’s appeared on stage with artists Andrea Bocelli and the Trans Siberian Orchestra and frequently performs with the Northwest Sinfonietta and the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. International tours include South Korea with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and China with the American Festival Orchestra. By far, her favorite place to play has been rafting through the Grand Canyon, and playing string quartets on the Colorado River.
Ms. Moss is an enthusiastic teacher to students of all ages. She has taught in El Sistema-inspired programs, BRAVO Youth Orchestras in Portland, OR, and Yakima Music en Acción in Yakima, WA, and has been faculty at summer camps including Icicle Creek Summer Symphony and Pipestone Music Festival. Mimi Zweig at Indiana University influenced her teaching, and she pursued pedagogical development at the Starling-Delay Symposium at the Juilliard School. Ms. Moss owns and operates a private studio of dedicated students, many of whom have achieved notable success. Students of Ms. Moss have gone on to study music collegiately, competed at State Solo and Ensemble, won concerto competitions, and studied at Idyllwild Arts Academy.
Vanessa’s private teachers include Katrin St. Clair, Rhonda Marsh, Carrie Rehkopf-Michel, and Denise Dillenbeck. She received her Bachelor of Music from Central Washington University, where she attended on full scholarship and graduated Cum Laude.
When she is not practicing, rehearsing, or teaching, Vanessa can be found exploring the outdoors with her husband, Josh Gianola, and their black lab, Gilly.
