Farewell, Jim!
Jim Bartsch is a pivotal figure in the orchestral community who for over three decades has been making an indelible mark on countless students' musical journeys. Jim initially took up the baton with MYS in 1990 as the Conductor of String Orchestra, during which time he was also a string coach for Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1997, he moved into his current role as Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor, and from 2020 to 2022 he also served as interim Co-Artistic Director of MYS. Some memorable performances include playing the white Steinway piano with the MYS Symphony Orchestra in the 1992 Super Bowl halftime show, and directing the National Anthem at Twins baseball games.
A native of St. Paul, Jim began playing music around fourth grade when he began piano lessons. Jim later gravitated toward the violin and participated in the school orchestras at Highland Park Junior and Senior High Schools, while Tom went on to become a professional pianist. Jim first picked up the viola in high school to play with a string quartet.
When it came time to make plans for college, Jim never really considered a path other than music. Working as a GTCYS summer camp counselor during college inspired Jim to pursue the field of music education. At the University of Minnesota, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance. From early on, he always knew he wanted to be teaching.
As a professional performer, Jim enjoys versatility as a violinist and violist in the Twin Cities and beyond, including playing viola in over fifty Minnesota Opera productions since 1998. As a highly-accomplished player of both instruments, Jim feels as though he inhabits a “sort of split personality,” but he admits he is truly a violist at heart. “Sometimes you have to wait a while, but when you get a great viola melody in an orchestra, there’s nothing like it!”
Jim’s teaching career in the public schools spanned twenty-five years in the Northfield, Red Wing, and Mounds View School Districts. His orchestras earned recognition including MMEA's Meritorious Orchestra Program, performances at the Minnesota String and Orchestra Teachers Assn (MNSOTA) Middle Level Orchestra Festival, MMEA's Mid-Winter clinic, and others. In 2022 Jim was awarded MNSOTA's Master Orchestra Teacher award. Jim is an active guest conductor and clinician for festivals and camps throughout the Upper Midwest and Canada.
From 1999–2013, he took a hiatus from school teaching to serve as the Minnesota Orchestra’s Director of Education, recalling, “it was a dream job, in a way.” Jim was responsible for programming school concerts, organizing collaborations, and essentially representing the Minnesota Orchestra to the education community. During his tenure, the Minnesota Orchestra won multiple Leonard Bernstein Awards for Educational Programming from the League of American Orchestras.
An active summertime hiker, Jim has climbed the highpoints of 44 US states, and 22 of the US peaks over 14,000 feet. When he's back on solid ground, one of Jim's favorite activities is reading string quartets with friends. His advice to young musicians: “collect as many experiences as you can, whether it’s classical music, playing in the pit in your school’s musical, or playing duets with friends. And listen, listen, listen.” As for Jim’s personal favorite, he is a big fan of the music of Brahms, particularly his Requiem, symphonies, and violin sonatas. Jim recommends to violin students, “get a copy of the Brahms sonatas because it will rock your world!”
Looking back on his career with MYS, Jim reflects, “It's been an honor and privilege to work with MYS students these many years, helping them grow as musicians as we rehearse and perform great music at a high level. Students, parents, artistic colleagues and staff have all made MYS a unique and important part of my life.” Jim told the Star Tribune in 2014, "Ninety-nine percent of what happens takes place in rehearsal, and when people come to the concert to see you waving your arms around, that's just a tiny part of it. Parents are surprised when they see my face—they've only seen me from the back side!"
Today when Jim takes the stage for his final concert as Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor, he will face the audience and be recognized for his remarkable career and legacy at MYS. It is a great honor to celebrate this outstanding musician, colleague, mentor, and teacher whose passion, positive attitude, and unmatched ability to connect with and inspire young people will continue to reverberate through the MYS community and beyond, leaving an enduring impact on generations of musicians. Thank you, Jim!
