Dedicated to music: Belle Ra and James Marshall ’21E (MM)

Recipients of the John and Mary Celentano Endowed Scholarship

James Marshall ’21E (MM) and Belle Ra in front of a portrait of John Celentano in the Cominsky Promenade outside Kilburn Hall.

James Marshall, a viola player from Washington, and Belle Ra, a cellist from Texas, love all things music—especially chamber music. Both are pursuing advanced degrees at the Eastman School of Music: Marshall, his doctorate in music, and Ra, her master’s. For the last two years, they have been part of Eastman’s graduate chamber seminar, which has given them opportunities to learn from great teachers, collaborate with other musicians, and perform recitals in beautiful venues such as the school’s Hatch Hall.

The musicians’ chamber experience has been funded through a scholarship established by John Celentano ’37E, ’41E (MM) and his wife, Mary, who died in 2017. Before his death in 2009, John Celentano was a violinist and professor emeritus of chamber music at Eastman. The
Celentanos were passionate about supporting chamber music and the opportunity for talented musicians to study with world-class faculty.

Marshall and Ra are doing both. As a result of being in the graduate seminar, they have participated in several chamber groups and are now playing together in a piano quartet.
Their instructors coach them, but all the musical decisions are up to them. The foursome plays music by a range of musicians, too, from Debussy, a 19th-century French composer, to contemporary composers like Danny Elfman, who has scored more than 100 feature films.

Chamber music dates back to the late 17th century as a form of classical music composed for a small group of instruments, usually a trio, quartet, or quintet. It started with such greats as Bach, Haydn, and Mozart, and it was usually played in a palace chamber or a large room.

“In a chamber group, there’s no one to cover us, which provides a very different experience than playing in an orchestra,” says Marshall. “I enjoy both types of playing, but in an orchestra, the conductor calls the shots. In the quartet, we do.” Adds Ra, “Playing chamber music complements the experience of being in an orchestra and performing solo, which is rewarding but can be isolating. In our quartet, we work hard and challenge and learn from each other. It has
created such a bond between us.”

It was after a high school performance that Ra knew she wanted to dedicate her life to music. That’s when an audience member told her how moved to tears she was by Ra’s performance. The young musician then realized the impact of music on people’s lives and knew she wanted to
pursue a career in it.

Ra was drawn to Eastman for its reputation and because she wanted to study with one particular instructor: Steven Doane. “He is a great performer and teacher,” says Ra, who is also a recipient of the Lowell and Sally Weitkamp Merit Scholarship Fund. “I play better because of him, and, by
example, he teaches me pedagogical skills.”

Marshall felt similarly called to play music, having fallen in love with the viola’s deep sound during a summer music camp in high school. At Eastman, Marshall studies with Masumi Per Rostad. “I met him at a winter camp in 2019 and was captivated by his performance,” he says.

“Learning from Professor Per Rostad has transformed my playing, given me a new way of thinking about music, and taught me how to play to the audience.” After completing his studies,
Marshall plans to pursue performing and teaching. Because of the Celentano scholarship, Marshall and Ra can focus full-time on their music and do not need to work part-time jobs or take out additional loans. Both are incredibly grateful. “I can attend Eastman because of the support of people like the Celentanos,” says Ra.