Joseph Genualdi

One of the most gifted and versatile musicians of his generation, Joseph Genualdi is celebrated among the most prestigious chamber music organizations in the world. A highly sought-after teacher, he is an orchestral violinist of distinction, recording artist, and renowned soloist.

Mr. Genualdi began his formal conservatory training at the age of 11 at Yale University with Broadus Erle, and at age 14 at the (University of) North Carolina School of the Arts, studying with Vartan Manoogian. Upon graduating from the School of the Arts' high school division, he was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he continued his violin studies with Jascha Brodsky and Ivan Galamian. It was during his years at Curtis that he formed a close relationship with the great master of chamber music, Felix Galimir.

At the age of 22, Mr. Genualdi won the audition to serve as associate concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony; he then became a founding member of the Muir Quartet, under the aegis of the Wardwell Fellowship at Yale University. The quartet was mentored by Oscar Shumsky and Raphael Hillyer, gaining recognition by winning the first prizes of Le Concour's D'Evian and the Naumberg Award. With the Muir Quartet and pianist Jean Phillipe Collard, Mr. Genualdi won the Grand Prix du Disque, for the Frank Piano Quintet (EMI-Angel). He has performed extensively throughout North America and Europe, appearing at numerous distinguished festivals including Marlboro, Nimes (France), Spoleto (Italy), Cheltenham (GB), Bravo!Colorado, Angel Fire, Arkansas, Ravinia, Skaneanteles, and EuroArts Leipzig summer festivals.

His collaborators and mentors include Menahem Pressler, Pina Carmirelli, Felix Galimir, Midori, James Conlon, Gil Shaham, Michael Tree, Oscar Shumsky, Raphael Hillyer, and Mieczyslaw Horsowski. Of particular note was his association with Rudoph Serkin, a guiding influence.

Throughout his career as a performing artist, Mr. Genualdi has taught continuously, having actively served on the faculties of Yale University, the University of Oregon, DePaul University, and California State University-Northridge. He currently teaches at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

In his ongoing work as artistic director and founding member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Mr. Genualdi has worked closely with many composers - Paquito d'Rivera, Gabriela Lena-Frank, Mason Bates, Lee Hyla, Steven Stucky, John Corigliano, Pierre Boulez, Joan Tower, David Del Tredici, Ned Rorem, William Bolcum, Ellen Zwillich, Bernard Rands, Robert Chumbley, Richard Wilson, and George Perle. He has recorded on labels including Music Master, Pickwick, EMI-Angel, Sony Classics, CRI, Albany, Naxos, and Cedille. A recent release on Summit Records of the Mozart Clarinet and Horn Quintets won Mr. Genualdi a finalist nomination for the 2007 Grammy Awards. A CD with The Chicago Chamber Musicians of the Brahms Horn Trio and Clarinet Quintet was released in May 2010. Numerous YouTube videos of Joseph Genualdi have been posted, and can be searched through: Joseph Genualdi, Chicago String Quartet, Muir Quartet, Los Angeles Piano Quartet, and The Chicago Chamber Musicians.