Birth

:

August 9, 1928 in Long Beach, CA

Death

:

November 25, 2020 in Weston, FL

Period

:

Classical

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Camilla Wicks was born on August 9, 1928, in Long Beach, California. Her parents were both musicians, and her father was a violinist who played in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Wicks began playing the violin at the age of three, and by the time she was six, she was already performing in public. Wicks' talent was recognized early on, and she was accepted into the Juilliard School in New York City at the age of eight. She studied with Ivan Galamian, one of the most renowned violin teachers of the 20th century. Wicks' talent continued to develop, and she made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 10. In 1942, Wicks won the prestigious Naumburg International Violin Competition, which launched her career as a soloist. She went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. Wicks was known for her virtuosic playing and her ability to convey emotion through her music. She was particularly admired for her performances of the works of Jean Sibelius, and she was the first American violinist to record all of his violin concertos. In addition to her solo career, Wicks was also a dedicated chamber musician. She was a founding member of the Camilla Wicks Trio, which performed together for many years. She also collaborated with other musicians, including pianist Arthur Rubinstein and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. Wicks' career was not without its challenges. In the 1950s, she took a break from performing to focus on raising her family. When she returned to the stage, she found that the music world had changed, and she struggled to regain her place as a soloist. She also faced discrimination as a woman in a male-dominated field. Despite these challenges, Wicks continued to perform and teach. She was a professor of music at the University of Southern California for many years, and she also taught at the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. Wicks received many honors and awards throughout her career. In addition to the Naumburg International Violin Competition, she won the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation Award, the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal, and the Avery Fisher Prize. She was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Wicks' legacy as a musician and teacher continues to inspire generations of violinists. She passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 92.

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