The nearest thing the Seattle Symphony has ever had to a rock star (though timpanist Michael Crusoe does usually get some “Yeah!”s and “Whoo!”s whenever he takes a bow) is its first-chair cellist, Joshua Roman, who’s about to start his second season with the orchestra. Not only is he a brilliant player who participates eagerly in Seattle’s music scene outside Benaroya Hall, he’s also taking it in much-needed new directions, getting classical music out of the usual venues and in front of new ears. This past spring, for example, Roman performed with writer Miranda July at her reading at Neumo’s and headed a chamber-music evening at the Triple Door, in addition to traditional solo and concerto performances. There’s been nobody else in the 13 years I’ve been paying attention who’s made such a splash so quickly.—Gavin Borchert www.seattlesymphony.org.