Roland and Almita Vamos
Encyclopedia
Roland and Almita Vamos are a husband and wife who are among the leading violin
and viola
instructors in the world. Their pupils have become prominent soloists, members of world renowned chamber groups and orchestras, and laureates of prestigious international competitions. The Vamoses have been recognized at the White House
seven times and were named Distinguished Teachers by the National Endowment for the Arts
. They have been honored by the American String Teachers Association
(ASTA) with the Distinguished Service Award, and showcased on CBS
' Sunday Morning News.
Roland Vamos studied with Oscar Shumsky
and William Lincer at the Juilliard School
. Almita Vamos studied with Mischa Mischakoff
and Louis Persinger
at the Juilliard School
. A performing artist of the highest caliber, she won the prestigious Concert Artist Guild award in New York City along with many other prizes.
Dr. and Mrs. Vamos are members of the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago
and at Northwestern University
. Prior to their position at Northwestern, they were on faculty at Oberlin Conservatory of Music
.
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....
and viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
instructors in the world. Their pupils have become prominent soloists, members of world renowned chamber groups and orchestras, and laureates of prestigious international competitions. The Vamoses have been recognized at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
seven times and were named Distinguished Teachers by the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
. They have been honored by the American String Teachers Association
American String Teachers Association
The American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
(ASTA) with the Distinguished Service Award, and showcased on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
' Sunday Morning News.
Roland Vamos studied with Oscar Shumsky
Oscar Shumsky
Oscar Shumsky was an American violinist and conductor born to Russian-Jewish parents.-Biography:...
and William Lincer at 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...
. Almita Vamos studied with Mischa Mischakoff
Mischa Mischakoff
Mischa Mischakoff was an outstanding violinist and concertmaster for 70 years, from the age of ten until the age of eighty....
and 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...
at 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...
. A performing artist of the highest caliber, she won the prestigious Concert Artist Guild award in New York City along with many other prizes.
Dr. and Mrs. Vamos are members of the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago
Music Institute of Chicago
Music Institute of Chicago is a community music school in Illinois with campuses in Downers Grove, Evanston, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Northbrook and Winnetka....
and at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Prior to their position at Northwestern, they were on faculty at Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, located on the campus of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Students of Oberlin Conservatory enter a very broad network within the music world, as the school's alumni...
.
Prominent Students
- Rachel Barton PineRachel Barton PineRachel Barton Pine is a violinist from Chicago. Considered a child prodigy at the violin, she started playing at the age of 3 and a half. She played at many renowned venues as a child and teenager...
(Soloist and recording artist. 1st Prize Johann Sebastien Bach International Music Competition, 2nd Prizes in the József Szigeti Violin Competition, the International Fritz Kreisler CompetitionInternational Fritz Kreisler CompetitionThe International Fritz Kreisler Competition is a violin competition dedicated to the memory of violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler.Founded in 1979, it is carried out every four years in Vienna, Austria. It is limited to violinists of or under 30 years of age.-Preliminaries:* J.S...
and 3rd Prizes in the Paganini CompetitionPaganini CompetitionThe Paganini Competition is an international violin competition named after the famed virtuoso and founder of contemporary violin technique Niccolò Paganini. Created in 1954 it has been carried out ever since in the months of September and October. The "Paganini Competition" is one of the most...
and the Montreal International Musical CompetitionMontreal International Musical CompetitionThe Montreal International Musical Competition is a high-level musical competition for violin, piano, and voice, first established in 2002....
, laureate Queen Elisabeth Music CompetitionQueen Elisabeth Music CompetitionThe 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...
. President of REB Foundation.) - Jennifer KohJennifer KohJennifer Koh is an American violinist, born to Korean parents in Glen Ellyn, IL.Jennifer Koh earned a B.A. in English Literature from Oberlin College, as well as a Performance Diploma from the attached Oberlin Conservatory. She is also a graduate of the Curtis Institute and was silver medalist in...
(Soloist, recording artist. 2nd Prize International Tchaikovsky CompetitionInternational Tchaikovsky CompetitionThe International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
and 1st Prize Irving M. Klein Competition.) - Benjamin Beilman (Winner of 2010 Montreal International Musical CompetitionMontreal International Musical CompetitionThe Montreal International Musical Competition is a high-level musical competition for violin, piano, and voice, first established in 2002....
, 3rd Prize 2010 Indianapolis Violin Competition, 1st Prize Young Concert Artists International Auditions, Grand Prize 2009 Corpus Christi International Competition, Astral Artist Competition and Stulberg International String Competition) - Cathy BasrakCathy BasrakCathy Basrak is one of the most prominent young violists today. She was a winner of several important viola competitions such as the 1995 Primrose International Viola Competition, Irving M. Klein Competition, and others. Basrak studied with Michael Tree, Joseph de Pasquale, and Roland and Almita...
(Assistant Principal Violist in the Boston Symphony OrchestraBoston Symphony OrchestraThe Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
and winner of the 1995 Primrose International Viola CompetitionPrimrose International Viola CompetitionThe Primrose International Viola Competition , also referred to as the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition , is an international music competition for viola players sponsored by the American Viola Society and named for the 20th century virtuoso William Primrose.The 13th Primrose International...
and winner of Irving M. Klein Competition) - Kirsten JohnsonKirsten JohnsonKirsten Johnson is an award-winning New York-based documentary filmmaker and cinematographer known for her versatility and fairness. Her film credits include Derrida, the 2002 documentary on French philosopher Jacques Derrida, the 2006 documentary Darfur Now , and the 2008 Pray The Devil Back to...
(Associate Principal Violist in the Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia OrchestraThe Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
) - Benny KimBenny KimBenny Kim is an American violinist. His brother Eric Kim is a cellist.Kim's early teachers included Doris Preucil and Almita Vamos. He studied at the Juilliard School under Dorothy DeLay, and graduated in 1986 with Bachelor's and Master's degrees. In 1981, he was a prize-winner in the Saint...
(Soloist) - Simin Ganatra (Violinist in Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning Pacifica QuartetPacifica QuartetThe Pacifica Quartet is an internationally recognized string quartet based in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, where they are faculty members at the University of Illinois. Its members are: Simin Ganatra, first violin; Sibbi Bernhardsson, second violin; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; and Brandon Vamos,...
) - Sibbi Bernhardsson (Violinist in Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning Pacifica QuartetPacifica QuartetThe Pacifica Quartet is an internationally recognized string quartet based in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, where they are faculty members at the University of Illinois. Its members are: Simin Ganatra, first violin; Sibbi Bernhardsson, second violin; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; and Brandon Vamos,...
) - Erin Schreiber (Assistant Concertmaster of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra)
- Ying QuartetYing QuartetThe Ying Quartet is an American string quartet. The Ying siblings from Winnetka, Illinois, formed the quartet in 1988 while studying at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. The quartet began performing in the farm town of Jesup, Iowa, as the first artists involved in the National...
: Janet Ying, Timothy Ying (violins) and Philip Ying (viola) (Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning Ensemble In Residence at The Eastman School of MusicEastman School of MusicThe Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
and winner of the 1993 Naumburg Chamber Music Award) - Daniel Ching (Violinist in Miro Quartet and on faculty at the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
) - Lydia Hong (Principal 2nd violinist of New York City Ballet, winner of WAMSO)
- Elisa Barston (Principal Second Violin of the Seattle Symphony. Previously the Associate Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra)
- Stephanie Arado (Assistant Concertmaster of the Minnesota OrchestraMinnesota OrchestraThe Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
) - Siow Lee ChinSiow Lee ChinLee Chin Siow , a Singaporean violinist, is a Professor of Violin and the Director of Strings at the College of Charleston, South Carolina...
(Soloist and winner of the 1994 Henryk Szeryng International Violin Competition in Mexico City) - David Bowlin (Violinist and teacher at The Juilliard SchoolJuilliard SchoolThe 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...
from 2002-2005 and currently a professor at Oberlin Conservatory of MusicOberlin Conservatory of MusicThe Oberlin Conservatory of Music, located on the campus of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Students of Oberlin Conservatory enter a very broad network within the music world, as the school's alumni...
) - Julia SakharovaJulia SakharovaJulia Sakharova is a professional violinist. A native of Zheleznovodsk, Russia, she debuted at the age of eight with the Moldavian Symphony Orchestra. Her mother is also a musician...
(Assistant Concertmaster of the Alabama Symphony OrchestraAlabama Symphony Orchestra- 1921-1955: Beginnings :The Alabama Symphony Orchestra can trace its beginnings to 1921, when on Friday, April 29, fifty-two volunteer musicians joined to perform at the Birmingham Music Festival at the Old Jefferson Theater...
) - Viacheslav DinerchteinViacheslav DinerchteinViacheslav Dinerchtein , is a prominent violist, and an avid promoter of both novel and overlooked viola repertoire. His performances as a recitalist and a chamber musician have taken him to the prestigious venues, such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Palacio de Bellas Artes...
(Viola Soloist) - Kuan-Cheng Lu New York Philharmonic since 2004-05 season. 1st Prize Taiwan National Violin Competition, 1st Prize ASTA string competition, the Raphael Bronstein Award, and the Taiwan Chi-Mei Corporation’s Outstanding Young Artist award. Served as concertmaster of the Verbier Orchestra and Pacific Music Festival.
- David Yonan (Violin soloist, chamber musician and teacher, faculty North Park University, Chicago, Midwest Young Artists), 1st Prizes at the International Violin Competition Kloster Schoental, Germany and the International Ruggero Ricci Concerto competition Berlin, 2nd prizes and silver medal at the International "Luis Sigall" Violin Competition, Vina del Mar, Chile and the International "Concours Ruggiero Ricci", Iserlohn, Germany, 3rd prizes, International Queen Sophie Charlotte Violin Competition, Mirow,Germany and at the Guderyahn Strings Competition, University of South Dakota, USA, Brahms Prize of the Carl Flesch Academy Baden-Baden, Germany.
Orchestra Positions
- New York PhilharmonicNew York PhilharmonicThe 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"...
- Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
- Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago Symphony OrchestraThe Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
- Boston Symphony OrchestraBoston Symphony OrchestraThe Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
- Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia OrchestraThe Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
- San Francisco SymphonySan Francisco SymphonyThe San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
- The Cleveland Orchestra
- Los Angeles PhilharmonicLos Angeles PhilharmonicThe Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
- St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
- Indianapolis Symphony OrchestraIndianapolis Symphony OrchestraThe Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana.Annually, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs 200 concerts for over 350,000 people. It is the largest performing arts organization in Indiana. The ISO is currently one of only 18 American...
- Minnesota OrchestraMinnesota OrchestraThe Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
- Saint Paul Chamber OrchestraSaint Paul Chamber OrchestraThe Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra , based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is the United States' only full-time professional chamber orchestra...
- Hong Kong Philharmonic OrchestraHong Kong Philharmonic OrchestraThe Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra , is the largest symphony orchestra in Hong Kong. First established in 1895 as an amateur orchestra, under the name Sino-British Orchestra, it was renamed the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 1957, and became a professional orchestra in 1974 under the funding...
- Oslo Philharmonic
- Seattle SymphonySeattle SymphonyThe Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra's season runs from September through July, and serves as the pit orchestra for most productions of the Seattle Opera in addition to its own concerts...
- Singapore Symphony OrchestraSingapore Symphony OrchestraThe Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a 96 members professional symphony orchestra. Its main performing venue is the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore although it has also toured widely in Asia, Europe and the United States...
- Iceland Symphony
- Colorado Symphony OrchestraColorado Symphony OrchestraColorado’s only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a diverse array of symphonic performances throughout the year...
Gold/1st Place
- Montreal International Musical CompetitionMontreal International Musical CompetitionThe Montreal International Musical Competition is a high-level musical competition for violin, piano, and voice, first established in 2002....
- Young Concert ArtistsYoung Concert ArtistsYoung Concert Artists is a New York City-based non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and promoting the careers of talented young classical musicians from all over the world...
- Tchaikovsky Youth Competition
- Henryk Szeryng International Violin Competition
- Primrose International Viola CompetitionPrimrose International Viola CompetitionThe Primrose International Viola Competition , also referred to as the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition , is an international music competition for viola players sponsored by the American Viola Society and named for the 20th century virtuoso William Primrose.The 13th Primrose International...
- Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young ViolinistsYehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young ViolinistsThe Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, mostly referred to only as the Menuhin Competition, is an international violin competition for young players under the age of 22, founded by Yehudi Menuhin...
- Irving M. Klein Competition
- Carl Flesch International Violin Competition
- Sebastien Bach International Music Competition
- Corpus Christi International Competition
- Kingsville International Young Performers Competition
- WAMSO
- Stulberg International String Competition
Silver/2nd Place
- International Tchaikovsky CompetitionInternational Tchaikovsky CompetitionThe International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
- Michael Hill International Violin Competition
- József Szigeti Violin Competition
- International Fritz Kreisler CompetitionInternational Fritz Kreisler CompetitionThe International Fritz Kreisler Competition is a violin competition dedicated to the memory of violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler.Founded in 1979, it is carried out every four years in Vienna, Austria. It is limited to violinists of or under 30 years of age.-Preliminaries:* J.S...
- Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition
Bronze/3rd Place
- 2010 Indianapolis Violin Competition
- Paganini CompetitionPaganini CompetitionThe Paganini Competition is an international violin competition named after the famed virtuoso and founder of contemporary violin technique Niccolò Paganini. Created in 1954 it has been carried out ever since in the months of September and October. The "Paganini Competition" is one of the most...
- Montreal International Musical CompetitionMontreal International Musical CompetitionThe Montreal International Musical Competition is a high-level musical competition for violin, piano, and voice, first established in 2002....
Laureates
- Queen Elisabeth Music CompetitionQueen Elisabeth Music CompetitionThe 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...
- Stradivarius International Violin Competition