Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 31, 1952 in Detroit, MI

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Kim Kashkashian is a world-renowned violist who has made significant contributions to the classical music world. Born on August 31, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan, Kashkashian grew up in a family of Armenian immigrants who were passionate about music. Her father was a singer, and her mother played the piano. Kashkashian started playing the piano at the age of five, but she soon switched to the viola, which became her primary instrument. Kashkashian attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, where she studied with Walter Trampler. She later continued her studies with Karen Tuttle at the Juilliard School in New York. Kashkashian's talent and dedication to music were evident from an early age, and she quickly established herself as a rising star in the classical music world. Kashkashian's career took off in the 1980s when she began performing with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She also collaborated with renowned conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Zubin Mehta, and Daniel Barenboim. One of Kashkashian's most significant achievements was her collaboration with composer György Ligeti. She premiered his viola concerto in 1992, which was written specifically for her. The piece was a critical success and helped to establish Kashkashian as one of the leading violists of her generation. Kashkashian has also made significant contributions to the chamber music world. She has collaborated with some of the world's most renowned chamber ensembles, including the Guarneri Quartet, the Tokyo String Quartet, and the Kronos Quartet. She has also performed with pianists such as Peter Serkin and Robert Levin. In addition to her performances, Kashkashian is also a dedicated teacher. She has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston since 2000 and has also taught at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. Kashkashian is known for her innovative teaching methods, which focus on developing a student's individual voice and musical expression. Kashkashian has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. In 2013, she was awarded the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, which is awarded annually to a composer, performer, or musicologist who has made significant contributions to contemporary music. She was also awarded the Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2013 for her recording of Kurtág and Ligeti's music for viola. Kashkashian's recordings have also received critical acclaim. Her recording of Bach's six suites for solo viola was hailed as a landmark recording and was awarded the Edison Award in 1999. She has also recorded works by contemporary composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt, and John Harbison. Kashkashian's dedication to music and her innovative approach to teaching have made her a beloved figure in the classical music world. Her contributions to the viola repertoire and her collaborations with some of the world's most renowned composers and musicians have helped to establish the viola as a solo instrument in its own right. Kashkashian's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of musicians and music lovers for years to come.

More....