ON THIS DAY

American Violinist Aaron Rosand was Born in 1927

March 15, 2022

2 MIN READ

An exceptional talent who embarked on his professional journey at the remarkable age of 9, Mr. Rosand received instruction from Leon Sametini at the Chicago Musical College. He showcased his skills numerous times as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra before enrolling at the Curtis Institute of Music in 1944, where he studied under the tutelage of the school's esteemed director, renowned virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist.

Following his graduation from Curtis in 1948, Mr. Rosand marked his New York recital debut in the same year and his New York Philharmonic debut under the baton of Leonard Bernstein in 1960.

Over the ensuing decades, Rosand gave recitals with his first wife, pianist Eileen Flissler, and showcased his virtuosity as a soloist with renowned orchestras and conductors worldwide. Additionally, he established a notable presence in the realm of recordings, gaining recognition for his distinctively Romantic-leaning repertoire.

Mr Rosand served the Dorothy Richard Starling Chair in Violin Studies teaching position on faculty at the Curtis Institute from 1981 until his passing in 2019.

His famed students included Benjamin Schmid, Alexander Kerr, Stephanie Jeong - and VC Artists Ray Chen, Richard Lin, Dami Kim, Ziyu Victor Li, Yu-Chien Benny Tseng and Stephen Waarts.

Mr. Rosand passed away in 2019 - aged 92.

"Aaron Rosand, the greatest violin teacher of his time, he taught in such a way that challenged his students to their maximum capabilities," VC Artist Ray Chen said. "In lessons he would take out his violin and play a passage, no matter how difficult, so gracefully, and with such gravitas, that it would make one immediately think 'I need to do better.'"