Parry Karp is a renowned cellist and professor of music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was born on August 14, 1952, in New York City, to a family of musicians. His father, Irving Karp, was a violinist and his mother, Lillian Fuchs, was a violist. His aunt, Joseph Fuchs, was also a renowned violinist. Growing up in a musical family, Karp was exposed to classical music from a young age and began playing the cello at the age of six. Karp received his early musical training at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Leonard Rose. He later continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with David Soyer. Karp’s talent as a cellist was evident from a young age, and he quickly gained recognition as a rising star in the classical music world. Karp’s career as a professional cellist began in the 1970s, when he joined the New York Philharmonic as a member of the cello section. He also performed with other major orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work as an orchestral musician, Karp also established himself as a soloist and chamber musician, performing in concerts and festivals around the world. One of the highlights of Karp’s career as a cellist was his performance of the complete Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Cello at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. in 1985. This performance was widely acclaimed and cemented Karp’s reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Bach’s music for the cello. In addition to his work as a performer, Karp has also made significant contributions to the field of music education. He has been a professor of music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1976, where he has taught cello and chamber music. He has also served as the director of the string program at the university and has mentored many young musicians who have gone on to successful careers in music. Karp’s dedication to music education has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2007, he was awarded the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is the highest honor given to faculty members for their teaching excellence. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the field of music education by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association and the American String Teachers Association. Throughout his career, Karp has remained committed to promoting the music of contemporary composers. He has premiered many new works for the cello, including pieces by John Harbison, Joan Tower, and Stephen Dembski. He has also collaborated with many contemporary composers, including John Adams, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich. Karp’s dedication to contemporary music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1999, he was awarded the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, which recognizes individuals and organizations that take risks in programming new music. He has also been recognized for his contributions to contemporary music by the American Composers Forum and the Fromm Music Foundation. In addition to his work as a performer and educator, Karp has also been active in promoting the arts in his community. He has served on the board of directors of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and has been involved in many other arts organizations in the Madison area.

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