Adam Fishburn is a violist, violinist, teacher, and arranger highly sought after across the Willamette Valley of Oregon. He serves as music faculty at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, and was recruited as a graduate employee for the University of Oregon in Eugene where he is studying his Doctorate in Viola performance under the mentorship of Arnaud Ghillebaert. Adam is a violist in the Eugene Symphony and the Sequana String Quartet, a Graduate ensemble at the U of O. His passion for music leads him across the state: anywhere from performing a wedding ceremony in Portland as co-founder of Black Bear Strings, to teaching lessons at home in Eugene.

Adam received his master’s degree from the U of O in 2021 and his bachelor’s in 2019 from Sam Houston State University in Texas. Hailing from Houston, Texas, his passion for the Viola developed early on while performing in various youth orchestras. At 14, he was selected to study privately with Grammy-winning violist James Dunham. As a teenager, his love for the craft cemented his ideas of having a career in music. His professional life began during high school: teaching lessons and working at a violin shop. 

As a performer, he has been mentored by numerous prolific violists: James Dunham, Roberto Diaz, Csaba Erdleyi, Hellen Callus, Ori Kam, Nokothula Ngwenyama, Joan DerHovsepian, Ivo-Jan Van Der Werff, Charles Noble, his principal teacher Arnaud Ghillebaert, Brett Deubner, the Sphinx Virtuosi.

The beautiful flora, fauna, and varying biomes of the Pacific Northwest inspire Adam. He enjoys video games, drawing, gardening, and singing. He loves to chill with his (very) large Bernese mountain dog mix Charlie, and fierce tuxedo cat Nicki.

Adam plays a rare viola made by George Wulme-Hudson in London, c. 1930.