An interview with
John Mark Rozendaal
Cellist & Activist
John Mark Rozendaal is a renowned musician and fervent climate justice activist. Celebrated for his mastery of Baroque and Renaissance music, John Mark has shifted his focus towards a critical and urgent mission—saving our dying planet. John Mark’s unique protest, playing Bach in front of Citibank to spotlight their substantial investments in fossil fuels, not only led to his arrest but also spotlighted the powerful role that music and musicians can play in societal change.
In this conversation with Eugene Friesen, John Mark shares his transition from performing in esteemed early music ensembles and teaching at prestigious institutions to taking bold actions with Extinction Rebellion and Climate Defiance. Eugene and John Mark discuss the motivations behind this dramatic career shift, the challenges of overcoming feelings of helplessness against climate threats, and how we can bind together to make impactful statements on global issues.
John Mark Rozendaal has enjoyed a musical career specializing in teaching and performing stringed instrument music from the baroque and renaissance eras. As founding Artistic Director of Chicago Baroque Ensemble, he performed and led seven seasons of subscription concerts, educational programs, radio broadcasts, and recordings for the Cedille and Centaur labels. Mr. Rozendaal served as principal violoncellist of The City Musick and Basically Bach, and has performed both solo and continuo roles with many period instrument ensembles, including Trio Settecento, Brandywine Baroque, LeStrange Viols, the Newberry Consort, the King’s Noyse, Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, and taught at Princeton University. Since 2022 John Mark has devoted his efforts to activism for climate justice, taking a leading role in two organizations, Extinction Rebellion and Climate Defiance.