Dr. Rossitza Goza
Harrington Lecturer in Violin
Office: Mary Moody Northen Hall, Room 259
Email: rgoza@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2829
Professional Profile
Dr. Rossitza Jekova-Goza is an artist whose dynamic career spans solo, chamber, and orchestral performances across the United States and Europe. Since 2006, she has served as concertmaster of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. Other concertmaster appointments include the Baton Rouge, North Arkansas, and Amarillo Symphony Orchestras, and she has also been featured as principal second violin of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. A longtime member of the internationally acclaimed Harrington String Quartet, she continues to captivate audiences with her expressive artistry. Her recent premiere of Arsentiy Kharitonov’s violin concerto with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra underscores her commitment to contemporary repertoire and musical innovation.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Jekova-Goza is a dedicated educator with faculty appointments at the University of North Texas, University of Oklahoma, and University of Arkansas. She currently teaches at West Texas A&M University, where she also founded FiddleFaddle, a summer chamber music camp for advanced string students. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes technical excellence, artistic integrity, and mentorship. She has guided numerous young violinists, including Sirena Huang, Benjamin Beilman, and Joel Link, during her tenure at the Encore School for Strings. She frequently serves as a guest specialist at the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas and has contributed to music education globally through residencies, workshops, and festivals in Bulgaria, Brazil, Costa Rica, and across Europe. At WT, Dr. Goza teaches violin, chamber music, and special topics courses on technique and pedagogy.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Jekova-Goza’s creative work centers on performance, pedagogy, and chamber music collaboration. As first violinist of the Harrington String Quartet since 2010, she has contributed to the ensemble’s national and international recognition. Her performance career includes premieres of new works—such as the violin concerto by Arsentiy Kharitonov, a string quartet by Samuel Jones, and Canyon, a composition for string quartet and orchestra by Christopher Theofanidis—and participation in prestigious festivals including the Verbier Festival (Switzerland), Sofia Music Weeks (Bulgaria), Semper Music Festival (Italy), Sulzbach-Rosenberg International Festival (Germany), and the Global Summer Institute of Music (Austria). A frequent collaborator in chamber music settings, her artistic output reflects a dedication to both classical tradition and contemporary music.
Research and Creative Activity
A native of Bulgaria, Dr. Jekova-Goza brings a rich cultural heritage to her musical life. She is profoundly grateful to her mentors—Kevork Mardirossian, David and Linda Cerone, Simon Fischer, and Stephen Hefling—whose guidance shaped her artistic path. Beyond the stage and classroom, she is known for her warmth, generosity, and dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Her life is a vibrant blend of performance, mentorship, and global musical exchange.