Cellist Joel Krosnick Has Died, Age 84

The world renowned cellist played in the Juilliard String Quartet and served on the faculty of The Juilliard School

It has been announced today that cellist Joel Krosnick has passed away. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Krosnick went on to study at Columbia University, where he began his lifelong passion for contemporary music.

From 1974 to 2016, he served as the Juilliard String Quartet. With them, Krosnick performed the great quartet literature and recorded it for the Sony Classical, Wergo, and CRI labels.

He also performed sonata repertoire with pianist Gilbert Kalish for more than 30 years. Together, they recorded the complete sonatas and variations of Beethoven and the sonatas of Brahms for the Arabesque label.

He performed and premiered a large number of new works by composers — including Donald Martino, Ralph Shapey, and Richard Wernick.

As an educator, Krosnick has been a member of The Juilliard School faculty since 1974 and chair of the cello department since 1994. In 2015, Joel Krosnick received the Juilliard School President’s Medal for Service to the Arts.

"Throughout his extraordinary career, 50 years of which were dedicated to Juilliard, Joel inspired and supported countless students," Juilliard wrote. "Those who had the privilege of working with him quickly recognized his fierce dedication to teaching, his unique ability to guide students toward their highest potential, and the depth of his humanity."

Also on the faculty of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival and the Perlman Music Program, he was associated with the Aspen, Marlboro, and Tanglewood music festivals, and Piatigorsky Seminar at the University of Southern California.

Among his accolades are the Chevalier du Violoncelle Award from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and honorary doctoral degrees from Michigan State University, Jacksonville University, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In 2011, as a member of the Juilliard String Quartet, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.