Denver Violinist Harold Wippler has Died, Aged 94

Wippler was a beloved concertmaster of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, as well as a renowned pedagogue

Long-serving Denver violinist and pedagogue Harold Wippler has passed away at the age of 94.

A Los Angeles native, Wippler began learning the violin from his father at a young age. His capabilities on the instrument were recognized early, and by the age of 14, he had already performed Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

He continued his studies with Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institute of Music, before taking a job as concertmaster of the Hollywood String Ensemble.

In 1948, Wippler was appointed assistant concertmaster of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, where he stayed for four years before becoming concertmaster of the Kansas City Philharmonic.

By 1955, Wippler returned to Denver to step into the concertmaster's seat, and this time was accompanied by his violinist wife Charleen, who joined the DSO's first violin section. He would remain with the DSO until 1987, despite a skiing accident that caused some difficulties with his shoulder. As a result, Wippler stepped back to assistant concertmaster, and then to a tutti role.

Wippler was renowned as a pedagogue, and students would travel significant distances to have lessons with him. Among his pupils was the violinist Eugene Fodor, whom Wippler taught between the ages of 8 and 18. Fodor, who would go on to win the 1974 Tchaikovsky competition, made his solo debut with the Denver Symphony Orchestra at the age of 10. Throughout his career, he remained deeply grateful to Wippler for the solid technical foundation he received as a child.

Paul Stein, one of Wippler's DSO colleagues told Laurie Niles of Violinist.com, "I was lucky to know Harold as both a wonderful colleague in the Denver Symphony and a warm, caring, and dedicated teacher."

"I’ll miss him as one of the greatest musicians I’ve known. He was so easy to talk to. He was a rare individual whose modesty and professionalism made him a much beloved concertmaster."

Our condolences to Wippler's family, friends, and colleagues.