Jason DePue joined The Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 23. Since then he has released four albums, including a mainstream classical album, Spanish Essentials for Violin and Piano, on behalf of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Schneider Concerts, and Project 440. Among highlights in his career with the Orchestra, he was honored to be invited to write four original arrangements that premiered at the 2014 Opening Night Gala and were subsequently performed in Saratoga Springs.
Mr. DePue is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music. A participant in various workshops and festivals including the Isaac Stern Workshop at Carnegie Hall, Jerusalem Music Encounters, and Ravinia, he was also concertmaster of the Verbier Festival Orchestra, the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and the New York String Seminar. He has studied with esteemed teachers Boris Brant (who is documented in a book about Dorothy DeLay), Vasile Beluska (who studied in the original Jascha Heifetz Master Class Series), and David Cerone (founder of Encore School for Strings).
Mr. DePue has also explored live performances of unaccompanied works by J.S. Bach and Paganini. He continues to expand his repertoire to enhance the learning experiences of his violin students, who are actively participating in respected music programs and festivals. For creative and outreach purposes he occasionally updates his YouTube page, which currently has collective videos that exceed 2.5 million views.
Mr. DePue was born into a musical family in Bowling Green, Ohio. His upbringing was steeped in musical tradition. His father is a renowned composer of over 65 years, while his mother was a talented pianist. The DePue family, now known as The DePue Brothers Band, is recognized for its musical legacy, including a PBS documentary, as well as being honored as “Music Family of America” by presidential decree.
The DePue family is also known for pioneering and being founders of an official genre, Grassical Music, which blends classical and bluegrass styles. The band has produced several albums including When It’s Christmas Time, Weapons of Grass Construction, and Classical Grass. Its innovative approach has influenced many musicians across genres.
In his spare time, Mr. DePue enjoys sports, comedy, keeping up to date with the news, and being part of book clubs exploring all types of topics. He plays a French violin crafted by Charles François Gand, circa 1824, and resides in Elkins Park.