Professional violist Liz O’Hara is passionate about the future of classical music, the wellbeing of its musicians, and the ensured opportunities of the empowering experience of music for all. She has extensive experience performing chamber music as a founding member of multiple professional ensembles, namely the 9th Street Quartet. Liz is also the co-owner of the quartet’s umbrella organization, 9th Street Chamber Music, LLC alongside violinist Matt Richardson. 9SCM is a dream realized, combining the joy of performing chamber music with the one-of-a-kind fulfillment of coaching engaged, talented young string quartet musicians, and a shared group vision of all the ways that the collaborative art of chamber music can have an immense impact on individuals and their communities.
In addition to an active concert season with 9th Street Quartet and symphonic engagements with ensembles like the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Liz has been part of several performances in the multi-genre string musician space. Most recently in January and February of 2026, Liz performed on electric 5-string violin with the Blade Runner Live Tour. She has also appeared on stage for National Theatre’s production of Tony and Grammy-winning Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill, Wolf Trap’s Broadway in the Park series, and in collaboration with Trey Pollard of Spacebomb Studios in Richmond, VA.
In late 2020, Liz launched MusicianCentric (formerly ViolaCentric), a podcast and online community with co-owner and fellow violist Stephanie Knutsen. MusicianCentric aims to inspire musicians to feel a sense of agency in their lives, especially those on a freelancer’s path. Guest conversations center around a curious enthusiasm for the unique ways they are making their mark in the world.
A native of central Pennsylvania, Liz has a B.M. in Viola Performance from Temple University, having studied with Evelyn Luise, and a M.M. in Viola Performance from The Catholic University of America, having studied with Tsuna Sakamoto. She is also an active participant in the new wave of contemporary ‘fiddle camps,’ auditioning successfully for a second year at Casey Driessen’s Blue Ridge Fiddle Camp at Brevard Music Center in North Carolina and also participating for a third summer in Mike Block’s String Camp in Vero Beach, Florida.