I was blessed to have wonderful teachers when I was young, and they continue to be my greatest sources of inspiration.
violin
With James Przygocki, Milwaukee, 1985
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With Mimi Zweig, New Orleans, 1997
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James Przygocki
A fellow disciple of Mimi Zweig, who taught me for the first six years of my violin adventure, Jim instilled in me a lifelong love of music and learning. Pictured here is my first public performance, and guess who's at the piano!
Mimi Zweig
Truly one of the great string pedagogues of our time, Mimi taught me in my formative years, from the ages of 10 until 16, and provided me with immeasurable experiences which I still carry with me today. When I was a bachelor student, I took her String Pedagogy class at Indiana University and was her assistant during my last year. Currently it is my great honor to be her colleague as a fellow faculty member at the Indiana University Summer String Academy (which she founded), where we mentor the next generation of young artists together with an amazing team of teachers.
Truly one of the great string pedagogues of our time, Mimi taught me in my formative years, from the ages of 10 until 16, and provided me with immeasurable experiences which I still carry with me today. When I was a bachelor student, I took her String Pedagogy class at Indiana University and was her assistant during my last year. Currently it is my great honor to be her colleague as a fellow faculty member at the Indiana University Summer String Academy (which she founded), where we mentor the next generation of young artists together with an amazing team of teachers.
Mauricio Fuks
A brilliant musician and pedagogue, Mauricio accompanied me on my journey to becoming a young artist during my Bachelor and Artist Diploma studies. His rich knowledge and generosity are astounding, and his lessons were always full of inspiration, humor and love. I share bits of his vast wisdom with my students daily, including many of the things he learned from his own teachers (Joseph Fuchs, Ivan Galamian and Jascha Heifetz).
A brilliant musician and pedagogue, Mauricio accompanied me on my journey to becoming a young artist during my Bachelor and Artist Diploma studies. His rich knowledge and generosity are astounding, and his lessons were always full of inspiration, humor and love. I share bits of his vast wisdom with my students daily, including many of the things he learned from his own teachers (Joseph Fuchs, Ivan Galamian and Jascha Heifetz).
 With Mauricio Fuks, Villefavard (France), 2007
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With Robert Mann, just after my Alice Tully debut playing Brahms Double, 2005
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Robert Mann
A giant in the chamber music world (founding first violinist of the Juilliard Quartet), his astounding artistry was an enormous inspiration for me during my Masters degree at The Juilliard School. He was already over 80 when I studied with him, but his mind was sharper than that of most of my fellow classmates, and I vividly remember specific details from most of the lessons he taught me. The repertoire I studied with him will always have a special place in my heart, particularly the Bach and Bartók sonatas included in my solo album Point Counter Point.
A giant in the chamber music world (founding first violinist of the Juilliard Quartet), his astounding artistry was an enormous inspiration for me during my Masters degree at The Juilliard School. He was already over 80 when I studied with him, but his mind was sharper than that of most of my fellow classmates, and I vividly remember specific details from most of the lessons he taught me. The repertoire I studied with him will always have a special place in my heart, particularly the Bach and Bartók sonatas included in my solo album Point Counter Point.
chamber music
Chamber music has been an integral part of my life from a young age.
My first taste of this incredible genre was playing a piano trio at age 7, and I was very lucky to have wonderful mentors who opened my eyes further to the magic of bringing such miraculous works to life on stage together with fellow musicians.
My first taste of this incredible genre was playing a piano trio at age 7, and I was very lucky to have wonderful mentors who opened my eyes further to the magic of bringing such miraculous works to life on stage together with fellow musicians.
First chamber music concert, age 7
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Jerry Horner with fellow students on tour in Paris, 1997
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Jerry Horner
Jerry was one of the most influential musicians in my life. I studied chamber music intensely with him during my formative years (ages 13-20) as a member of the Dubinsky Quartet, and I grew up listening to the Fine Arts Quartet in Milwaukee. Jerry taught me the most important aspects of chamber music playing which have shaped my musicianship in everything that I do: critical listening and reacting, intonation in harmony, blending, studying a score properly and bringing it to life, and so much more.
Jerry was one of the most influential musicians in my life. I studied chamber music intensely with him during my formative years (ages 13-20) as a member of the Dubinsky Quartet, and I grew up listening to the Fine Arts Quartet in Milwaukee. Jerry taught me the most important aspects of chamber music playing which have shaped my musicianship in everything that I do: critical listening and reacting, intonation in harmony, blending, studying a score properly and bringing it to life, and so much more.
Rostislav and Luba Dubinsky
I had the great privilege of studying chamber music with Rosty (founding first violinist of the Borodin Quartet) and his pianist-wife Luba Edlina-Dubinsky as a teenager. I even got to share the stage with them, performing Tchaikovsky piano pieces that he arranged for string quartet and the magnificent Chausson Concert for violin, piano and string quartet (pictured here).
After Rosty died in 1997, Luba gave my young quartet permission to use their name, and so we performed as the Dubinsky Quartet until the year 2000 when we disbanded.
I had the great privilege of studying chamber music with Rosty (founding first violinist of the Borodin Quartet) and his pianist-wife Luba Edlina-Dubinsky as a teenager. I even got to share the stage with them, performing Tchaikovsky piano pieces that he arranged for string quartet and the magnificent Chausson Concert for violin, piano and string quartet (pictured here).
After Rosty died in 1997, Luba gave my young quartet permission to use their name, and so we performed as the Dubinsky Quartet until the year 2000 when we disbanded.
Cumberland (soon to be Dubinsky) Quartet with Rosty and Luba Dubinsky
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Dinner at Musique en bord de Seine festival, with Michel Strauss and friends
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Michel Strauss
As a college student I often followed my teacher Mauricio Fuks to the summer courses which he taught in Europe, and through him I met the extraordinary artist, French cellist Michel Strauss. Michel took me under his wing by inviting me numerous times to his festival Musique en bord de Seine (formally Musique de Chambre en Normandie) and after receiving a Fulbright scholarship, I spent two years studying chamber music with him at the Conservatoire National de Musique de Paris. He is pictured above, third from the left, next to the late, great violinist/conductor Joseph Silverstein.
As a college student I often followed my teacher Mauricio Fuks to the summer courses which he taught in Europe, and through him I met the extraordinary artist, French cellist Michel Strauss. Michel took me under his wing by inviting me numerous times to his festival Musique en bord de Seine (formally Musique de Chambre en Normandie) and after receiving a Fulbright scholarship, I spent two years studying chamber music with him at the Conservatoire National de Musique de Paris. He is pictured above, third from the left, next to the late, great violinist/conductor Joseph Silverstein.
Rubens Quartet, © Ilvy Njiokiktjien
Rubens Quartet
After my time in Paris, I plunged directly into professional life, joining the Rubens Quartet in 2008. We had a wonderful eight years together (the quartet existed for a total of 16), filled with (inter)national tours and recording projects.
Some of our most influential mentors:
Anner Bijlsma
Eberhard Feltz
Jerry Horner
Paul Katz
György Kurtag
Walter Levin
Stefan Metz
Rainer Schmidt
Benzion Shamir
And phenomenal collaborative partners:
Atar Arad, viola
Zuill Bailey, cello
Inon Barnatan, piano
Peter Barsony, viola
Chih-Yi Chen, piano
Kirsten Doctor, viola
Ferdinand Erblich, viola
Nino Gvetadze, piano
Robert Holl, bass
Godfried Hoogeveen, cello
Stefanie Jacob, piano
Jeannette Koekkoek, piano
Melissa Kraut, cello
Frank van de Laar, piano
David Leisner, guitar
Ramon Lormans, percussion
Vladimir Mendelssohn, viola
Dimitri Murrath, viola
Vincent Planès, piano
Joey Roukens, composer
Frederieke Saeijs, violin
Judith Serkin, cello
Peter Stumpf, cello
Pacifica Quartet
Penderecki Quartet