Jill Van Gee, Santa Cruz Symphony’s Assistant Principal Viola, holds a Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School, a Master of Music from the Université de Montréal, and enjoys working with the next generation of musicians through her private studio and with local youth orchestras. As a performer, Jill has performed with many chamber groups and orchestras (including Austin, San Antonio and Montreal Symphonies), touring and performing all over the world.
Jill started viola in the 5th grade of a public school. Her teacher said she was too small for the cello, so she chose the viola because “everyone plays the violin.”
She is also Santa Cruz Symphony’s Librarian - her first administrative position with a symphony. Jill is responsible for ordering, maintaining and marking the physical sheet music, making all the bowing notations provided by the concertmaster and other principal string players, and distributing it to all the players.
Jill settled in California two years ago with her boyfriend and two feline friends, Artemis and Captain Spectacular. When not preoccupied with music, she enjoys cooking and baking as well as sampling the local coffee shops. She doesn’t consider herself athletic, but looks forward to tackling the bouldering walls at local gyms and practicing Iyengar yoga.