Berl Senofsky
Encyclopedia
Berl Senofsky was a violin
ist of the twentieth century.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, the son of Russian immigrant violinists. He received his first music lessons from his father at the age of three. By the time he was six he had won a scholarship to study with Louis Persinger
, a former pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe
. At the age of twelve he received a scholarship to the Juilliard School
to study with Ivan Galamian
, with whom he remained for twelve years. Following military service in World War II, Senofsky made his New York recital debut as the winner of the coveted Walter Naumberg Award in 1946. Shortly thereafter, he appeared as a soloist for the first time with George Szell
and the Cleveland Orchestra
. He remained as assistant concertmaster there from 1951 to 1955.
In 1955, Senofsky became the first and only American violinist to win the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition. Since then, he has become a permanent member of the jury for the Belgian competition.
Senofsky performed regularly on the international concert circuit. In the United States he has played with the New York Philharmonic
, the American Symphony Orchestra
, and the orchestras of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, among others. He has also performed in Europe, South America, and the Far East.
In addition to extensive touring, recording, and teaching duties at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he started in 1965, Senofsky was the founder and prime mover of the American Artists International Foundation, Inc. Established to help prepare young American musicians for international competitions, the organization has made it possible for American violinists to participate in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
. In 1983, Senofsky was invited by the director of the Shanghai Conservatory to start a new school of violin playing; he remained in the People's Republic of China
for three months giving master classes and performances.
Newsweek
once called Senofsky a "giant of a man...an American musical hero of Bunyanesque proportions." Consistently praised for the warmth and beauty of his tone, breathtaking virtuosity, and impeccable musicianship, Berl Senofsky's artistry has won him the boundless admiration of his colleagues and audiences alike.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist of the twentieth century.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, the son of Russian immigrant violinists. He received his first music lessons from his father at the age of three. By the time he was six he had won a scholarship to study with Louis Persinger
Louis Persinger
Louis Persinger was an American violinist and pianist.Louis Persinger trained at the Leipzig Conservatory, before finishing with Eugène Ysaÿe in Brussels. He became leader of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra and the Royal Opera Orchestra in Brussels. In 1915 he was appointed leader and assistant...
, a former pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe
Eugène Ysaÿe
Eugène Ysaÿe was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tzar"...
. At the age of twelve he received a scholarship to the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
to study with Ivan Galamian
Ivan Galamian
Ivan Alexander Galamian was an influential Armenian violin teacher of the twentieth century.He was born in Tabriz, Iran, but his family soon emigrated to Moscow, Russia. Galamian studied violin at the School of the Philharmonic Society there with Konstantin Mostras until his graduation in 1919...
, with whom he remained for twelve years. Following military service in World War II, Senofsky made his New York recital debut as the winner of the coveted Walter Naumberg Award in 1946. Shortly thereafter, he appeared as a soloist for the first time with George Szell
George Szell
George Szell , originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell, was a Hungarian-born American conductor and composer...
and the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
. He remained as assistant concertmaster there from 1951 to 1955.
In 1955, Senofsky became the first and only American violinist to win the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition. Since then, he has become a permanent member of the jury for the Belgian competition.
Senofsky performed regularly on the international concert circuit. In the United States he has played with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the American Symphony Orchestra
American Symphony Orchestra
The American Symphony Orchestra is a New York-based American orchestra founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski, then aged 80. Following Maestro Stokowski's departure, Kazuyoshi Akiyama was appointed Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1973-1978. Music Directors during the early...
, and the orchestras of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, among others. He has also performed in Europe, South America, and the Far East.
In addition to extensive touring, recording, and teaching duties at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he started in 1965, Senofsky was the founder and prime mover of the American Artists International Foundation, Inc. Established to help prepare young American musicians for international competitions, the organization has made it possible for American violinists to participate in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
The Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions has been, since its foundation, considered the world over to be one of the most prestigious and most difficult. It is devoted to violin , piano , to composition and to singing...
. In 1983, Senofsky was invited by the director of the Shanghai Conservatory to start a new school of violin playing; he remained in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
for three months giving master classes and performances.
Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
once called Senofsky a "giant of a man...an American musical hero of Bunyanesque proportions." Consistently praised for the warmth and beauty of his tone, breathtaking virtuosity, and impeccable musicianship, Berl Senofsky's artistry has won him the boundless admiration of his colleagues and audiences alike.