Linda Rosenthal
Founder & Artistic/Executive Director
linda [at] jazzandclassics [dot] org

Concert violinist Linda Rosenthal has lived in Alaska since 1969, and in Juneau since 1974. Her career as a performer and teacher has taken her to all parts of the world, including music festivals that are located in places-like Juneau--with incredible natural beauty. Inspired by this and the special energy unique to festivals, Linda asked herself, "Why Not Juneau?" The spectacular natural setting, the community's love and support for music, the warm and welcoming ways of Juneau audiences and the community in general make it the perfect setting for a spectacular celebration of world-class jazz and classical music.

In addition to serving as the Artistic Director of Juneau Jazz & Classics, Linda maintains a busy schedule performing and teaching. She has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia in recitals, as a soloist with orchestras and as a chamber musician. She is also Artistic Director of the Lake Placid Chamber Music Seminar and Professor of Music at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.

In 1995, Linda was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to create and premiere Strings & Stories, a 2-person show for young audiences that combines storytelling and solo violin music. She continues to perform the show in schools, libraries, museums and theaters for thousands of children throughout the country each year under the auspices of the Piatigorsky Foundation in New York City.  

Over the past decade Linda has commissioned and premiered several works for solo violin, electric violin, violin and narrator.  Her solo CDs are Three American Sonatas,  Favorite Violin Encore, Fiddle de Bop, a collection of Americana music and Glacier Blue, a Concerto For Violin and Big Band commissioned by Juneau Jazz & Classics.

Linda received the 1978 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and was given an honorary degree of Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska Southeast in 2005.

Jessalynn Rintala