Jeanne Marquez: The violin prodigy has come of age
In 2019 (at age 15), violinist Jeanne Marquez partnered with Filipino-Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski (then age 19!) in a marvelous reading of the Sibelius concerto with the Manila Symphony Orchestra
In 2023, she breezed through the Mendelssohn concerto again with the MSO and toured the concerto in Manila Pianos, UPV Iloilo, and Science City of Munoz to rousing standing ovations.
In 2024, she hurdled the fiendishly difficult Brahms concerto again with the MSO, leaving no doubt that she stands out in her generation of violinists.
Two weeks ago, she was a soloist in an MSO night of Hollywood music and made something ravishing out of Carlos Gardel’s Por Una Cabeza as arranged by John Williams. Her vibrant interpretation instantly evoked the Tango Scene from the hit film, Scent of a Woman.
On July 2 at the MSO Music Hall, she was the dazzling violinist in a night of chamber music featuring Hungarian cellist Zoltán Onczay and pianist Abelardo II Galang.
It was a highly rewarding evening of Beethoven’s Gassenhauer Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11, Bela Bartok’s Hungarian Folk Melodies for Violin and Cello, Astor Piazzolla’s Primavera Porteña and Oblivion, and Ryan Cayabyab’s Malinac Lay Labi and Pamulinawen.
Marquez told the Philippine STAR: “Playing chamber music is so much fun because I essentially get to practice with other people. Having the opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives and interpretations from other musicians is always a treat. I loved working with Abel (Galang) and Zoltan (Onczay). I think the three of us clicked right away. The two days of rehearsals were so much fun.”
MSO executive director Jeffrey Solares described Marquez’s musical transformation thus: “Jeanne (Marquez) has matured as a musician, not just a violinist but more towards a more complete artistry rather than just virtuosity. The youthful fire and passion are still there, but now more under control and refined.”
Now going back to Juilliard in her last year as a scholar, Jeanne looks back at her first three years of schooling. “Juilliard is a really huge blessing. The highlights would be having the opportunity to study with Prof. Joel Smirnoff, meeting amazing musicians that I now consider my friends, experiencing the beauty and chaos of New York, and numerous other great things. It has been an amazing three years of learning and growing not only as a violinist, but, more importantly, as a human being. I am also immensely grateful to Standard Insurance for supporting my studies at Juilliard.”
Now she sees Juilliard differently from the school, whose tough auditions she had to pass. “The environment is pretty friendly with a lot of great people. We don’t hate each other at school! The Juilliard community is also very supportive of each other’s growth and well-being. After three years, Juilliard is definitely a second home to me now.”
She has reasons to be proud of her teacher, Professor Joel Smirnoff, from whom she learned many things. “Apart from absorbing the technical aspects, what I really love about Professor Smirnoff’s way of teaching is that he lets me discover my own identity when I am playing. I remember when I played the first movement of Lalo Symphonie Espagnole in one of my lessons, he kept on saying, ‘I’m sorry if I’m being so subjective about this.’ Everything that he said made perfect sense, but he definitely allows me to explore and use my artistic instincts in the pieces that I play.”
Before her return engagements in Manila, Marquez had the chance to be part of the three-week Sarasota Music Festival in Florida, where only 60 musicians are accepted. “It was lots of fun! This is the very first music festival that I joined during my three years at Juilliard, hence I was not sure what to expect. It turned out to be an amazing learning experience. I had the opportunity to have masterclasses with great artists like David Bowlin and Elena Urioste. I also had the chance to work beside Alexander Kerr in one of the festival orchestra concerts performing Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, Op. 61. I had the chance to work with several Sarasota fellows and faculty on chamber music and performed the inner movements of the Mendelssohn Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20, Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 (“Death and the Maiden”) arranged by Mahler for string orchestra, and Strauss’ Metamorphosen for 23 Strings. I also got to study Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57. Getting to know the festival fellows was definitely one of the highlights of the festival as well. We even had a string quartet sight-reading party one time! My experiences in Sarasota are something I am really grateful for.”
Next month, Marquez is part of the teaching staff of the First Bohol International Youth Orchestra Festival presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation and the Children’s Orchestra Society of New York.
