Birth

:

February 5, 1954

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Steven Ansell is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of music. He was born on August 22, 1960, in New York City, United States. Ansell grew up in a family of musicians, and his parents were both professional musicians. His father was a cellist, and his mother was a pianist. Ansell's parents recognized his musical talent at an early age and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Ansell began his musical training at the age of six, and he started playing the viola when he was ten years old. He attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with William Lincer and Karen Tuttle. Ansell graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1982. After completing his studies at Juilliard, Ansell joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a violist. He played with the orchestra for six years before joining the Cleveland Orchestra in 1988. Ansell has been a member of the Cleveland Orchestra ever since and has held the position of principal violist since 1996. Ansell has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a chamber musician with many renowned ensembles, including the Cleveland Quartet, the Emerson Quartet, and the Tokyo Quartet. Ansell has received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1986, he won the William Primrose International Viola Competition, which is one of the most prestigious competitions for violists. He was also a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1991, which is awarded to outstanding young musicians who show great potential for a solo career. Ansell has recorded many albums throughout his career, including recordings of the Brahms and Mozart viola quintets with the Cleveland Quartet. He has also recorded the complete works for viola and piano by Rebecca Clarke with pianist Lydia Artymiw. Ansell is also a dedicated teacher and has taught at many prestigious institutions, including the New England Conservatory of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Tanglewood Music Center. He has also given masterclasses at many universities and music schools throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to his musical career, Ansell is also an avid cyclist and has participated in many long-distance cycling events. He has completed several century rides, which are 100-mile bike rides, and has also participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge, a two-day bike ride that raises money for cancer research. Ansell's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant, and his talent and dedication have earned him a place among the most respected musicians of his generation. His performances as a soloist and chamber musician have been praised for their technical brilliance and emotional depth, and his recordings have become classics in the world of classical music. Ansell's commitment to teaching has also helped to inspire and educate the next generation of musicians, ensuring that his legacy will continue for many years to come.

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