The violist, described as ’an indelible part of the New York music scene’, was 73
The American violist Lois Martin died on 19 November 2025. She was 73.
Martin was a native of York, PA and began her viola studies with Arthur Lewis at the Peabody Preparatory School. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music where she was a scholarship student of Francis Tursi. During this time, she was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She continued her graduate studies at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Lillian Fuchs.
Martin was a founding member of the Atlantic Quartet, which is dedicated to the performance of newly written compositions. Her commitment to contemporary music included performances with the Group for Contemporary Music, ISCM Chamber Players, Ensemble Sospeso, Ensemble 21, New York New Music Ensemble, Speculum Musicae, Composersʻ Guild, Da Capo Chamber Players, Composers Forum and Steve Reich and Musicians.
Martin was principal violist for the Stamford Symphony (now Orchestra Lumos), OK Mozart Festival and The Little Orchestra Society. She was a member of the Orchestra of St. Lukeʼs, American Chamber Ensemble, and frequently appeared with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and New York City Ballet Orchestra.
As an educator, she served on the faculty of the Composersʼ Conference at Wellesley College and taught at Princeton University.
On the Jazz and Popular circuit, she performed with artists including Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Chris Potter, Ornette Coleman, Esperanza Spalding (with whom she performed on a world tour), String Fever, Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Paul Simon, Tyne Daley, Gil Goldstein, Don Alias, Richard Bona and Mike Mainieri.
Martin recorded the works of over 50 contemporary composers, including Viola Variations, her commission by Charles Wuorinen. She premiered the work at Merkin Hall in New York in 2008 and also played it at the Library of Congress in 2009 for Wuorinenʼs 70th birthday celebration.
Tributes for Martin have been flowing on social media. Reviewer for The Strad, Bruce Hodges, said: ’Sad to hear of the death of violist Lois Martin, an indelible part of the New York music scene, and more important, a lovely person.
’I will never forget hearing her, almost 25 years ago, in Helmut Lachenmann’s string quartet, “Gran Torso,” my first encounter with his work. She and her colleagues – Mark Menzies, Calvin Weirsma, and Christopher Finckel – left me as dazed as I have ever been after a concert.
‘Thank you, Lois, for that night and so many others.’
Violist Blake Allen paid tribute to his ’stand partner with The Little Orchestra Society for 13+ years’.
’I am deeply saddened by this news, but ever grateful for her friendship, leadership, and inspiration,’ he wrote on social media.
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