Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Mark Sokol was born on May 22, 1956, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Sokol began playing the violin at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Sokol's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began studying with renowned violinist Ivan Galamian at the Juilliard School in New York City when he was just eight years old. Sokol continued his studies with Galamian for ten years, during which time he won numerous competitions and awards. In 1974, Sokol was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with violinist Jascha Brodsky. While at Curtis, Sokol won the school's concerto competition and performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also won the prestigious Naumburg International Violin Competition in 1977, which launched his career as a soloist. Sokol made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1978, performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto under the baton of Zubin Mehta. The performance was a critical and commercial success, and Sokol was hailed as one of the most promising young violinists of his generation. Over the next few years, Sokol performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also made several recordings for major labels such as Deutsche Grammophon and RCA. In 1982, Sokol joined the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he taught for over 30 years. He also continued to perform as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborating with artists such as pianist Emanuel Ax and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. One of Sokol's most notable performances was his 1995 performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas. The performance was recorded and released on CD, and received critical acclaim for Sokol's virtuosic playing and emotional depth. Sokol was also a dedicated chamber musician, and was a founding member of the San Francisco-based ensemble, the Muir String Quartet. The quartet performed together for over 25 years, and recorded numerous albums for labels such as EMI and Arabesque. Throughout his career, Sokol received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1990, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes outstanding young musicians. He was also a recipient of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's President's Medal. Sokol retired from performing in 2015, but continued to teach at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music until his death in 2018. He was remembered by his colleagues and students as a passionate and dedicated musician, who inspired generations of young musicians with his artistry and commitment to excellence.

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