• Most Respected Classical Music Platform
  • #classicalForever
TOP

VC ARTIST

Violin Joshua Brown

birthday cake
Born On November 30, 1999
United States
Born in United States
United States
United States
instrument
Violin 1635-40 Nicolo Amati on generous loan from the Stradivari Society of Chicago
Bow Francois-Nicolas Voirin
graduation cap
Education
New England Conservatory | Music Institute of Chicago
music note
Teachers
Donald Weilerstein | Almita and Roland Vamos
awards
Notable awards/competitions won
Second Prize and both Audience Awards at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition | First Prize at the 2023 Global Music Education League International Violin Competition | First Prize at the 2019 International Violin Competition of Leopold Mozart | Prizewinner at 11th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Cooper International Violin Competition, IX International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians

Praised for his unique musical voice and instincts, VC Artist and Violinist Joshua Brown has found success in performances and competitions worldwide, continually garnering praise from critics. He gained international attention after winning the 2nd Prize and both Audience Awards at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Other international competition successes include the 1st Prize at the inaugural 2023 Global Music Education International Violin Competition in Beijing, China, as well as the 1st Prize and Audience Award at the 2019 International Violin Competition of Leopold Mozart in Augsburg, Germany.

Joshua was first recognized for his debut performance with the Cleveland Orchestra. He has gone on to perform regularly with orchestras around the world, including the Munich Radio Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Civic Orchestra, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege, among others, continually garnering praise from critics. He received critical acclaim after his performance of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in Beijing with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

A passionate recitalist and chamber musician, Joshua has also appeared regularly in series such as Chicago's Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, Festival Musiq3 in Brussels, the Tchaikovsky Festival in Moscow, the ProMusica series in Mexico, the Matinée Musicale series in Cincinnati, the Jupiter Chamber Players series in New York City, and the North Shore Chamber Music Festival in Chicago. Joshua received the Kronberg Academy’s 2023 Manfred Grommek Prize, and has been named a Pirastro Artist, Yamaha Young Performing Artist, and Luminarts Fellow, among other awards. Upcoming highlights of the 2024/25 season include a recital tour of Taiwan and South Korea, as well as a series of performances of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra in Japan.

Joshua is currently pursuing his Artist Diploma at the New England Conservatory of Music studying under Donald Weilerstein after also earning his Bachelor and Master of Music there. Before his time at NEC, Joshua studied with Almita and Roland Vamos at the Music Institute of Chicago. Joshua is grateful to be playing an outstanding Nicolo Amati violin from Cremona, circa 1635-1640, on extended loan through the generosity of the Mary B. Galvin Foundation and the efforts of the Stradivari Society, a division of Bein & Fushi, Inc. The Mary B. Galvin Foundation, Inc. and the Stradivari Society support the very highest level of string playing by loaning precious antique Italian instruments to artists of exceptional talent and ability.

Joshua Brown
What are your hobbies outside of music?
I love to read all sorts of books, especially sci-fi/fantasy books! I also like to stay physically active and enjoy running, swimming, strength training, etc. I am a basketball fan but haven't played for many years...
If you were not a musician, what profession do you feel you’d be doing now?
Probably something related to computers/technology, since I was really interested in it at a young age!
What would your dream gig be?
Beethoven, Brahms, Bartok, or Berg with the Berlin Philharmonic!
What is a song that makes you turn the radio up?
Anything by Frank Ocean, if his songs are even on the radio! I definitely prefer chill music if I am listening to something non-classical...I get enough intense music in my daily life.
What would you say makes you unique as a musician?
I think there are many musicians who take a similar approach, but I try to view every performance as a communication of the composer's deepest thoughts and feelings. My only goal is always to share and experience real emotions with an audience and bring the composer's soul to life through a faithful interpretation of the score. As a performer, one's personal feelings and emotions, when applied this way, will always create a unique interpretation!
Do you keep all 3 meals phone-free? No social media scrolling.
My meals are usually phone-free but if I'm eating alone, they are my time for reading! Sometimes I read on my phone, but mostly on an e-reader these days...
Video Thumbnail
Video Thumbnail
Video Thumbnail
Video Thumbnail
Video Thumbnail
CONTACT US
x

Get ALL our latest conveniently by EMAIL

Our newsletter is trusted by over 100,000+ industry professionals around the world

We deliver news straight to your inbox and will never share your data.
You'll never miss a beat!

click left click right