A Chicago native, violist JENNIFER MARLAS grew up studying with Almita and Roland Vamos, and won honors from a young age in the Stulberg and GM/Seventeen National Competitions and first prize in the Talman Home Competition. Ms. Marlas was a four-year scholarship student of Josef Gingold at Indiana University, where she was unanimously awarded a Performer's Certificate.

She earned a master's degree and was awarded the Josef Kasper prize at the Peabody Conservatory where she studied with Victor Danchenko and Violaine Melancon. Upon graduation from the Peabody Conservatory, Ms. Marlas joined the Pacifica String Quartet as their second violinist. As a member of the Pacifica, she won Grand Prize at the Fischoff and 50th Anniversary Coleman competitions and the Nathan Wedeen Management Prize at the Concert Artists Guild Competition. Since leaving the quartet, Ms. Marlas has been active as a soloist, recitalist and teacher.

Ms. Marlas has performed live-broadcast recitals in Chicago and Los Angeles on the Dame Myra Hess series, and has been presented in recital by the Fine Arts Society and Chicago Chamber Music Society. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Bach Ensemble of Baltimore, the Skokie Valley Symphony, and the Viennese Chamber Orchestra of Chicago. She has served on the faculties of the Yellow Barn and Mimir Chamber music festivals.