Masumi Per Rostad is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a violist. He was born on December 22, 1977, in New York City, United States. Rostad grew up in a family of musicians, and his parents were both professional musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Rostad's parents recognized his musical talent at an early age and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Rostad began his musical training at the age of four, and he started playing the violin. However, he switched to the viola when he was 12 years old. Rostad attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with William Lincer and Heidi Castleman. He later went on to study with Kim Kashkashian at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Rostad's career as a violist began to take off in the early 2000s. He was a member of the Pacifica Quartet from 2001 to 2017, and during that time, the quartet won numerous awards and accolades. In 2002, the Pacifica Quartet won the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, which is one of the most prestigious awards for chamber music in the United States. The quartet also won the Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2009 for their recording of Elliott Carter's String Quartets Nos. 1 and 5. In addition to his work with the Pacifica Quartet, Rostad has also performed as a soloist with orchestras around the world. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Rostad has also been a guest artist at numerous music festivals, including the Marlboro Music Festival, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Seattle Chamber Music Society. Rostad is known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music he performs. He has a particular affinity for contemporary music and has premiered works by some of the most important composers of our time, including Jennifer Higdon, Shulamit Ran, and Julia Wolfe. In addition to his performing career, Rostad is also a dedicated teacher. He has taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. Rostad is currently a professor of viola at the Eastman School of Music, where he has been on the faculty since 2017. Throughout his career, Rostad has received numerous awards and honors. In 2005, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is given to outstanding young musicians who show great potential for a major career in music. Rostad was also a recipient of the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in 2006 and 2008. In addition to his performing and teaching work, Rostad is also a passionate advocate for music education. He has worked with numerous organizations to promote music education and to bring classical music to underserved communities. Rostad has also been involved in the creation of new music education programs, including the Pacifica Quartet's Music for Life program, which brings music education to schools in the Chicago area. In conclusion, Masumi Per Rostad is a highly accomplished classical music artist who has made a significant impact on the world of music. His virtuosic playing, emotional depth, and dedication to music education have made him a beloved figure in the classical music community.

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