Johnny Gandelsman is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a violinist, violist, and arranger. Born in Moscow, Russia in 1979, Gandelsman grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they both played in the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Gandelsman began playing the violin at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. In 1990, when Gandelsman was 11 years old, his family immigrated to Israel. There, he continued his musical studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He later moved to the United States to attend the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with renowned violinist Jaime Laredo. Gandelsman's career as a professional musician began in 2002, when he joined the string quartet Brooklyn Rider. The quartet quickly gained a reputation for their innovative approach to classical music, blending traditional repertoire with contemporary works and collaborating with artists from a variety of genres. Gandelsman played violin in the quartet and also served as their arranger, creating new arrangements of works by composers such as Beethoven, Bartok, and Philip Glass. In addition to his work with Brooklyn Rider, Gandelsman has also performed as a soloist and chamber musician with orchestras and ensembles around the world. He has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the Seattle Symphony, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Silk Road Ensemble, among others. He has also collaborated with a wide range of artists outside of the classical music world, including singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane, jazz pianist Dan Tepfer, and indie rock band The National. Gandelsman's talent as an arranger has also led to numerous collaborations and commissions. He has created arrangements for the Kronos Quartet, the Silk Road Ensemble, and the Dover Quartet, among others. He has also arranged music for films, including the score for the documentary film The Great Invisible. Throughout his career, Gandelsman has received numerous awards and accolades for his work as a musician and arranger. In 2013, he was awarded a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album as a member of the Silk Road Ensemble. He has also been awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, and the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant. In recent years, Gandelsman has focused on his work as a solo artist, releasing several albums of solo violin and viola music. His 2017 album, Bach: Complete Cello Suites on Violin, received critical acclaim and was praised for its innovative approach to Bach's iconic works. Gandelsman's most recent album, J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, was released in 2020 and features his own arrangements of Bach's solo violin works. In addition to his work as a performer and arranger, Gandelsman is also a dedicated educator. He has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, and has given masterclasses and workshops around the world. He is also a co-founder of In A Circle, an organization that promotes cross-cultural collaboration and education through music. Overall, Johnny Gandelsman is a versatile and innovative musician who has made a significant impact on the classical music world.

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