“I performed during the unification in Berlin, during the celebrations when they tore down the wall dividing East and West. The joy erupting around us was invigorating,” recalls professional cellist Roee Harrán. “Being part of that historic moment is something I'll never forget.”
Born in Israel, Harrán began playing cello at seven and was awarded scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. After completing his military service as an “Outstanding Musician” in the Israel Defense Forces String Quartet, he earned his Bachelor of Music from Tel Aviv University and a Master’s from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Paul Katz and Steve Doane.
Harrán has since performed worldwide—from solo recitals in Israel and the U.S. to concerts across Europe, Asia, and Canada. He has played with the Orchestre Mondial des Jeunesses Musicales, the Rochester Piano Quartet, and chamber groups like the Vanbrugh String Quartet. Following time with the New World Symphony and Savannah Symphony, he joined the faculties of Radford University and the Renaissance Music Academy, performing with the Avanti Trio.
Now based in Johns Creek, he freelances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Opera, and Ballet. In 2023, he founded the Temple Chamber Players and currently teaches at Emory University. Before each performance, he centers himself with a picture of his wife and daughter. “It used to be just my wife, but now we have a two-year-old,” he says. “Sometimes I tape it to my stand.”
Harrán’s advice to aspiring musicians? “Take a risk in your playing. Be genuine. Don’t imitate—find your own voice.”
At the opposite end of the orchestra, you might find John Grove—bassoonist, contrabassoon enthusiast, and artist affiliate at Georgia State University. Like Harrán, Grove blends a dynamic performance career with deep community roots.
He performs with the Johns Creek and Columbus symphonies and has appeared with ensembles ranging from the Atlanta Symphony and Opera to the Alabama and Charleston symphonies. As a woodwind doubler, Grove has also played in pit orchestras for Broadway shows at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.
His collaborations are as wide-ranging as his instrument collection, having performed with The Moody Blues, The Indigo Girls, The Who, and even Weird Al Yankovic. But his favorite instrument? “The contrabassoon. The lower the better,” he laughs.
Music runs in the Grove family—his wife, Debby, and sons, Chandler and Mark, all play bassoon. “Debby is also a professional bassoonist,” he says. “Much better than I am.” The family often plays bassoon quartets together, sometimes followed by Grove’s post-performance ritual: peanut butter M&M’s and sparkling water. “It makes my reeds taste better.”
Among his more memorable gigs: a rain-soaked Mozart performance at the Atlanta Botanical Garden where audience members shielded musicians from sprinklers with umbrellas. Another time, he was mid-performance in The Rite of Spring when a key fell off his contrabassoon. “We borrowed a screwdriver from the English horn player and fixed it just in time.”
Grove, who also plays Scottish snare drum with the Atholl Highlanders pipe band, is a band director at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. His advice to beginners: “Find the instrument that speaks to you. Learn it well. Then the real joy begins—making music with friends.”
Whether sharing historic moments on world stages or fixing broken reeds backstage, Harrán and Grove are united by a lifelong passion: connecting through music.
“Each show is a shared experience that lives on in our memories,” Grove reflects. “Then—it’s time to start practicing for the next one.”