Musician Bio

Joined the ISO: September 1997
Primary musical studies: Eastman School of Music (Bachelor’s Degree, magna cum laude)
Teachers included: Charles Castleman

It was inevitable that violinist Jennifer Farquhar would become a musician, as there are many musicians in several generations on both sides of her family. She asked for violin lessons for her seventh birthday after hearing performances by a string quartet that played in her school near Philadelphia.

Ms. Farquhar joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1997 as a first violinist, but is currently Acting Associate Principal Second Violin. Over the years she has performed in many chamber music concerts in Indianapolis with Suzuki and Friends, Ronen Ensemble, Quattra, and more recently as a member of the Castleton Quartet. She also is a member of the Arizona MusicFest Orchestra.

Ms. Farquhar teaches violin lessons from her home studio. As a member of the ISO, she has also coached violinists in the Side-by-Side program and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.

Before joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Farquhar played in the North Carolina Symphony, the Delaware Symphony, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. She performed and taught at Eastern Music Festival for two summers, having also attended as a high school student. As a college student she participated in the New York String Orchestra Seminar under Alexander Schneider and in the Castleman Quartet Program. She graduated magna cum laude from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Charles Castleman. Other teachers included Yumi Ninomiya Scott, Helen Kwalwasser, and Helen Spencer.

During the pandemic, Ms. Farquhar began exploring her creativity through video editing. Her work can be seen in the Teddy Bear Series videos available through the Indianapolis Public Library and on YouTube. Her collaborative and solo performance videos can be found on the “Musicians of the ISO” Facebook page, and on YouTube.
Outside of music, Jennifer enjoys being outdoors, sewing, and solving puzzles of all kinds.

– JENNIFER FARQUHAR