Josh Holritz
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.
Josh currently serves as Concertmaster of both the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and the
Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. He began his tenure as Concertmaster of the Huntsville
Symphony Orchestra in 2022 under Music Director Gregory Vajda. Josh was appointed as
Concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera in 2025 under Music Director Ilya Ram
having served since 2014 as both as Associate Concertmaster and Acting Concertmaster of the
CSO. 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.
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.).
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.).