Violist Atar Arad Named Indiana University Bloomington Distinguished Professor 

Viola professor Atar Arad has been honored for his achievements in performance and composition

Indiana University (IU) Bloomington’s Distinguished Professors are faculty members whose outstanding scholarship, artistic and literary distinction, or other achievements have garnered significant recognition from peers.

Among the appointees is Atar Arad, a viola professor at the Jacobs School of Music Strings Department at IU Bloomington, who is honored for his work in both performance and composition. 

Hailing from Israel, Arad won the cum-laude first prize at the Geneva International Music Competition in 1972 and completed his Diplome Superieur at the Brussels Conservatory the following year. 

He received his Artist Diploma at the Samuel Rubin Israeli Academy of Music and was also a student at the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth. Later on, he was appointed principal violist of the Frankfurt Symphony.

Additionally, he performed as a member of the Cleveland Quartet for seven years and made acclaimed recordings on labels such as Teldec, Telarc, RCA, and RIAX. 

As a composer, his works include a solo sonata for viola, two string quartets, a viola concerto, and his “Twelve Caprices for Viola,” which is published by Hofmeister Musikverlag, Leipzig.

His summer teaching activities include appearances at Keshet Eilon, Domaine Forget, the Heifetz Institute, and the Steans Music Institute, where he has served on faculty since 1991. Arad plays a Niccolo Amati viola with a set of PI strings by Thomastik.

He joins the other 2025 Distinguished Professors including Alan Dennis, a professor in the Kelley School of Business; Cynthia Graham, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences;  and Dr. William Tierney, a professor in the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. 

“[Arad’s] work has not only elevated the role of the viola but also set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire and influence musicians worldwide,” a representative of the university said.

“We’re celebrating Professor Atar Arad on being named a Distinguished Professor—IU’s highest faculty honor!” the university posted on Instagram. “A world-renowned violist, composer, and educator, Professor Arad’s contributions to performance and composition have shaped the international music community. Well deserved!”