Commanding a "tone that is just...delicious" (W.C. Nyaho), American violist/violinist Jacob Clewell is proving himself a string player of rare range and versatility. Gold Medalist of the Vancouver International Music Competition and 2026 Emerging Artist of the American Viola Society, he has appeared as soloist with orchestras in the United States and Canada, and in chamber performances alongside members of the Escher, Emerson, and Penderecki quartets, Gryphon Trio, Manhattan Chamber Players, Berlin Philharmonic, pianists Pedja Muzijevic and Andrew Armstrong, and others. Away from classical music, he has performed with Elton John tribute act Elton Rohn, Icelandic "cosmic rock" band Sigur Rós, and premiered original concert etudes transcribed from music by Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson. Jacob's mentors have included Mara Gearman, Nicholas Cords, Lawrence Dutton, Steven Dann, Roger Chase,  and Nobuko Imai, and he spent two years of study with the Emerson Quartet. "Dr. J" earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto under the guidance of Masumi Per Rostad (viola) and Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin). Jacob cites Boris Kroyt, Hayao Miyazaki, the videogame NieR: Automata, and My Chemical Romance as his greatest inspirations, and can often be found brewing specialty coffee, playing Dungeons and Dragons, or transcribing music for Ezra.​

​

Do not edit or reproduce this biography without permission.