Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster Alexander Velinzon is a violinist with an international reputation. During the recent years he has appeared with the London Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Germany’s WDR Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Symphony as a guest concertmaster, as well as serving as Concertmaster of Seattle Symphony from 2012 till 2015.
Velinzon’s recent solo highlights include critically acclaimed performances of the Brahms Violin Concerto and Schnittke Violin Concerto #4 with the Seattle Symphony, as well as appearances with University of Washington Symphony Orchestra, Cascade Symphony Orchestra and Oregon Music Festival Orchestra.
His concerto appearances this season include performances with the Bakersfield Symphony in California and New Philharmonia Orchestra in Massachusetts. He will also return to the Oregon Music Festival to perform Bruch violin concerto.
An avid chamber musician, Mr. Velinzon has performed with the Boston Chamber Players, Seattle Chamber Music Society; in Boston he is a long-standing member of the Walden Chamber Players and a co-founder of the LiveArts string quartet. In New York, he performs frequently with the Jupiter Chamber Players.
In 2010 A.Velinzon made his critically acclaimed debut at London’s Wigmore Hall with the Soloists of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Alexander Velinzon graduated from the Leningrad School for Gifted Children. After moving to the United States, he studied with renowned pedagogue Dorothy DeLay at The Juilliard School, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His success at the Heida Hermanns Competition, Tibor Varga Competition and at the Artist International Young Artists Auditions, led to his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. On that occasion The Strad praised him as “very musical and intensely serious.”
Mr. Velinzon has been an affiliate professor at the University of Washington since 2014. He has also coached chamber music and taught at MIT and Tanglewood Music Center.