Partner Musicians

Josh Holritz (Spring 2026)

Violin

Hailed as “particularly outstanding” (Chattanooga Times Free Press) violinist Josh Holritz has established a reputation for his dynamic versatility as a concertmaster, soloist, chamber musician, studio artist, and educator.

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Josh currently serves as Concertmaster of both the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. He began his tenure with the CSO as Associate Concertmaster in 2014, served as Acting Concertmaster from 2019 to 2025, and assumed the Concertmaster position in 2025 under CSO Music Director Ilya Ram. Josh was appointed as Concertmaster of the Huntsville Symphony in 2022 by HSO Music Director Gregory Vajda. His orchestral experience includes past positions with the Glens Falls and Greensboro Symphony Orchestras, as well as guest concertmaster appearances with the Peoria and Bryan Symphony Orchestras and Macon Pops. He is also a regular substitute with the Charleston, Nashville, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras, and Nashville Opera.

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As a soloist, Josh’s engagements include performances with the Chattanooga Youth Symphony, Huntsville Youth Orchestra, Southern Adventist University Orchestra, The Masterworks Festival, National Music Festival, and both the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.

An avid chamber musician, Josh spent a decade performing with the CSO String Quintet, several years with the Bay View String Quartet, and frequently collaborates with his wife, flutist Kristen Holritz, as the duo Schaafritz. A recent highlight includes performing a complete cycle of Beethoven’s Sonatas for Violin and Piano with pianist ChoEun Lee.

An advocate for contemporary music and improvisation, Josh’s doctoral dissertation, A Player’s Guide: Lera Auerbach’s 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano, Op. 46, includes a complete recording of the work. His free improvisation can be heard on the album Blow-Fi, and he has collaborated on world premieres of chamber works by Douglas Hedwig, Jonathan McNair, Nicole Chamberlain, and Anthony Patterson. Josh also performs with Nashville’s contemporary ensemble Intersection and is a sought-after studio musician, recording for film, television, and video game soundtracks.

As a dedicated educator and mentor, Josh has helped shape the next generation of musicians during his time on the faculties of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Lee University, Southern Adventist University, and Covenant College. He has also served as a faculty artist at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts and the Bay View Music Festival.

Josh holds degrees from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (B.M.), the University of Minnesota (M.M.), and the University of Georgia (D.M.A.).

Jo Huling (Fall 2025)

Percussion

Joanna "Jo" Huling is a versatile and dynamic percussionist and drummer in the Washington D.C./Baltimore region.

She has performed throughout the United States and Europe, with venues including the John F. Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, Carpenter Theatre, The Music Center at Strathmore, Maryland Theatre, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Freeman Stage, and the National Gallery of Art.

As a theatre musician, Jo has performed in pits throughout the DC region and beyond on both percussion and drums, including her recent Off-Broadway debut as the drummer for Mama I'm a Big Girl Now - at New World Stage (NYC) with Marissa Jaret Winokur, Laura Bell Bundy, and Kerry Butler.

Highlights include Arena Stage (DC) productions of Damn Yankees, A Wrinkle in Time (World Premiere), Disney’s Newsies, and Anything Goes, and appearances in Signature Theatre productions of Penelope and Bridges of

Madison County, as well as premieres of new and revived shows: Unbreakable by Andrew Lippa (DC), Millennials are Killing Musicals by Nico Juber (Los Angeles), and Messiah the Musical (DC).

She has performed in televised productions on PBS A Capitol Fourth, backing Keala Settle (“This is Me” from The Greatest Showman) and Lauren Alaina, (“Road Less Traveled”). She has also appeared with acclaimed artists such as GRAMMY Nominee Jenny Oaks Baker, as well as Latin GRAMMY Winner and highly acclaimed children’s musician Mister G.

As an orchestral/concert percussionist and timpanist, Jo performs regularly with the Richmond Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, Washington Opera Society, and Mid-Atlantic Symphony. Jo has performed

with numerous acclaimed soloists, most notably Itzhak Perlman. She performs regularly in concert performing orchestral masterworks, pops, and Film in Concert productions. She has also performed with the Annapolis Opera, Apollo Orchestra, Post-Classical Ensemble, and Brass of the Potomac among many others.

Jo has worked on numerous recording projects. Classical credits include recordings with the Annapolis Symphony, Brass of the Potomac, Washington National Cathedral Choirs, American Boychoir, and has also recorded with the Sean McArdle Band (“Charades” and “Cold Out There”) as well as Dennis Kane (“The Two of Us”).

Jo performed as a soloist in the World Premiere of Philip Glass’ Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Wind Ensemble, with Jonathan Haas. She commissioned and premiered James Kazik’s Percussion Concerto, which also

earned her recognition as a Rising Star competition finalist. Past performances also include solo and chamber recitals.

She enjoys collaborations with other disciplines, and has performed in many opera, ballet, and dance projects including the Rite of Spring with the Alexandria Symphony at the National Gallery of Art, Carmen with the Annapolis Opera, and the Nutcracker with the Richmond Ballet.