Cellist Joshua Roman had a singular focus: being a perfect empty vessel for the music. But when long COVID forced him to face his limits, he rediscovered his love for playing the cello.
About Joshua Roman
Joshua Roman is a composer and cello soloist who has performed with leading orchestras around the world, including Los Angeles Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Toronto Symphony and Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra.
Before his career as a soloist, Roman joined the Seattle Symphony as their principal cellist in 2006. At 22 , he was the youngest musician to hold that role.
Roman's solo album, Immunity, was released in 2024.
Selections from Roman's album, Immunity, come courtesy of his label, Bright Shiny Things
Additional recordings of David Popper's "Etude No. 1," Roman's "The Importance of Gratitude," Saint-Saën's Cello Concerto No. 1, among others come courtesy of Joshua Roman.
"Ave Maria" is performed by Yue Tang on cello and Tatiana Konina on organ. It is featured courtesy of the artists.
This segment of TED Radio Hour was produced by Matthew Cloutier and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour. You can follow us on Facebook @TEDRadioHour and email us at TEDRadioHour@npr.org.
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