Marla Rathbun has recently returned from 3 years in Rio de Janeiro where she performed with Bachiana Brasileira, serving as co-concertmaster on Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in the famous Theatro Municipal, and performed recitals. While there she premiered a work written for her by Brazilian composer Marcos Lucas, Solilóqio for Solo Violin. In the US she performs with her piano partner, Maria Rivera, in the Rathbun/Rivera Duo as well as with various other small chamber ensembles, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Kairos– a Bach Cantata Series at Holy Cross Monastery, and Eleva Chamber Players. She freelances in the greater New York area. Rathbun taught 20+ years at the Ithaca Chamber Music Institute Faculty and was on the violin faculty of Interlochen Arts Camp . For many years she was violinist in the Aurora Quintet, led the Taghkanic String Quartet and was principal second violinist with the Connecticut Grand Opera Orchestra. Rathbun received her B.M.E. from Capital University then worked as principal second violinist with the Savannah Symphony and Savannah String Quartet and taught at Savannah State College. While earning her M.M. in violin performance at Southern Illinois University, she was assistant concertmaster of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Quito, Ecuador, she played in and directed a small chamber orchestra, performed with a string quartet as first violinist, and was concertmaster of Quito National Symphony. She is a former student of Raphael Bronstein and Ariana Bronne. She has directed the Suzuki program at Dutchess Community College and coordinated the music program at Poughkeepsie Day School.

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