Cellist and educator J Holzen is in constant pursuit of musical collaborations of all kinds, including contemporary chamber music, pop and jazz shows, and working with students to achieve their artistic goals. Their enthusiasm and sincerity as an artist and performer encourages audience members and students alike to join J on their artistic journey or begin their own. In the Fall of 2023, J began their Fellowship with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Additional orchestral commitments include playing in the cello sections of Orchestra Iowa and the Sioux City Symphony. They currently serve as a Teaching Associate in Music at Lake Forest College.
J is committed to gender diversity in their programming, highlighting the works of women composers as well as queer and trans composers in their solo and chamber music concert curation. In 2025, J founded Transcendent Souls, a project that seeks to celebrate trans artistry and highlight the intersections of values central to queer, trans, and religious communities through sensory-friendly programs of works by LGBTQ+ composers. J grew up in a musical family in St. Louis, Missouri, and holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Oberlin Conservatory. Their primary teachers include Brant Taylor, Darrett Adkins, and Ken Kulosa. During their free time, J can be found playing Tetris, snuggling with their cat, Reno, and attending as many concerts as possible.
