Gary Levinson

Bel Canto Playing Style and Refined Technique — From Both Sides of the Microphone.

Gary Levinson is the Senior Principal Associate Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth. Known for his Bel Canto playing style and refined technique, he made his New York Philharmonic solo debut in 1991 under Erich Leinsdorf, the same year he completed his Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School, where his teachers included Dorothy DeLay, Glenn Dicterow, and Felix Galimir.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Levinson began studying violin at the age of five at the Leningrad Special Music School. After immigrating to the United States in 1977, he went on to win major prizes at the Romano Romanini International Violin Competition in Italy and the Jacques Thibaud International Violin Competition in Paris.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Levinson has collaborated with many of the world's leading artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Eugenia Zukerman, Lukas Foss, Carter Brey, Joseph Kalichstein, and Christopher O'Riley. He has appeared at major festivals throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and served on the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival from 2001 to 2010.

In addition to his distinguished performing career, Mr. Levinson has worked for more than 30 years as a music recording producer, bringing rare experience from both sides of the microphone. He has collaborated with major producers, including Grammy Award winning producer Adam Abeshouse, and has participated in numerous film soundtrack recordings, including work connected with major motion pictures such as Titanic.

Mr. Levinson's recordings include the complete Beethoven Violin and Piano Sonatas with pianist Daredjan Kakouberi, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, the Margaret Brouwer Violin Concerto, My New York Years, and acclaimed chamber music recordings with the Elysium String Quartet. He also recently recorded the Tsontakis Violin Concerto in Bogotá, Colombia. A champion of contemporary music, he has premiered and recorded works by composers including Margaret Brouwer and Behzad Ranjbaran.