Marisa Bushman,viola
A native New Yorker, violist Marisa Bushman has performed across the globe, appearing throughout the United States, Europe, South and Central America, South Africa, and China. Since moving in 2010, she has made San Antonio her home, where she has become an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape, including serving with the San Antonio Symphony for over a decade.
A passionate chamber musician, Marisa is the Executive Director and violist of Agarita, the innovative ensemble she co-founded to reimagine classical music through collaboration, accessibility, and adventurous programming. Known for her rich, powerful sound and her commitment to making music accessible to all, she has helped shape Agarita into a vital force in San Antonio’s arts community. Under her leadership, Agarita has been recognized with honors such as Best of the City by the San Antonio Current, the San Antonio Business Journal Impact Award for Cultural Vibrancy, and Luminaria’s Featured Artist. In 2024, Marisa was honored to join the prestigious Leadership San Antonio Class 49. The ensemble has also been featured internationally as Artist in Residence at the La Rioja Festival in Logroño, Spain, completed a residency at Carnegie Mellon University, and is currently recording an album with renowned guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas.
Marisa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her Master’s Degree in Viola Performance from Indiana University, Bloomington. Her principal teachers include Atar Arad and Paul Coletti. From 2008 to 2010, she was a fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, where she frequently served as principal under Michael Tilson Thomas and was a featured artist in the symphony’s Chamber Music Series.
Outside of music, Marisa enjoys riding a tandem road bike with her husband, Ignacio; exploring San Antonio’s Mission Trails; savoring good coffee and wine; cooking; and going on adventures with their son, Felix.