Born into a family of cellists, Chris Finckel began his studies with his father George Finckel and is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Mischa Schneider and Orlando Cole. Currently Mr. Finckel is the cellist of the Manhattan String Quartet with whom he performs on major Chamber Music series throughout the United States and Europe. A frequent guest artist with such renowned ensembles as the Tokyo String Quartet and the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Finckel has appeared at the Casals, Santa Fe, Ravinia, Saratoga, Norfolk and Rockport Chamber Music festivals, and has recorded for the Nonesuch, New World, CRI, Bridge and Vanguard record labels. A dedicated performer of 20th century music, Chris Finckel has been involved in New York City's contemporary music scene for over 20 years. Through his affiliations with such organizations as the New York New Music Ensemble, Parnassus, The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and Speculum Musicae. He has participated in the premieres of the works of over 100 composers including pieces by Milton Babbitt, Jacob Druckman, Elliot Carter, Mario Davidovsky, Donald Martino, Steve Reich and Charles Wuorinen.
Curtis Macomber Violin
The playing of violinist Curtis Macomber has been praised by Fanfare magazine as “remarkable for its depth of feeling as well as for technical excellence.” Macomber is considered to be one of the most versatile soloists and chamber musicians before the public today, equally at home with and committed to works ranging from Bach to Babbitt, and with a discography ranging from the complete Brahms string quartets to the Roger Sessions solo sonata (“This is one of the best recordings of 20th-century solo violin music ever made.”—American Record Guide) and the complete Grieg sonatas (released in the fall of 2002 on the Arabesque label).Mr. Macomber has for many years been recognized as a leading advocate of the music of our time. He has performed in hundreds of premieres, commissions, and first recordings of solo violin and chamber works by, among others, Carter, Davidovsky, Perle, Wuorinen, and Mackey.As first violinist of the award-winning New World String Quartet for 11 years (1982–1993), Mr. Macomber performed the standard repertoire as well as numerous contemporary works in performances in major halls throughout the United States and Europe and, with the Quartet, was appointed artist in residence at Harvard from 1982–1990. He also recorded 14 discs and performed numerous times with the same group on public radio and television in this country and the BBC in Great Britain. Mr. Macomber is a member of the chamber music faculty of Juilliard and the violin faculty of Manhattan School of Music and has also taught at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Taos School of Music, and the Yellow Barn Music School. He holds his B.M., M.M., and D.M.A. degrees from Juilliard, where he was a scholarship student of Joseph Fuchs and winner of the Morris Loeb and Walter Naumburg prizes.
Born into a family of cellists, Chris Finckel began his studies with his father George Finckel and is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Mischa Schneider and Orlando Cole. Currently Mr. Finckel is the cellist of the Manhattan String Quartet with whom he performs on major Chamber Music series throughout the United States and Europe. A frequent guest artist with such renowned ensembles as the Tokyo String Quartet and the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Finckel has appeared at the Casals, Santa Fe, Ravinia, Saratoga, Norfolk and Rockport Chamber Music festivals, and has recorded for the Nonesuch, New World, CRI, Bridge and Vanguard record labels. A dedicated performer of 20th century music, Chris Finckel has been involved in New York City's contemporary music scene for over 20 years. Through his affiliations with such organizations as the New York New Music Ensemble, Parnassus, The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and Speculum Musicae. He has participated in the premieres of the works of over 100 composers including pieces by Milton Babbitt, Jacob Druckman, Elliot Carter, Mario Davidovsky, Donald Martino, Steve Reich and Charles Wuorinen.
The playing of violinist Curtis Macomber has been praised by Fanfare magazine as “remarkable for its depth of feeling as well as for technical excellence.” Macomber is considered to be one of the most versatile soloists and chamber musicians before the public today, equally at home with and committed to works ranging from Bach to Babbitt, and with a discography ranging from the complete Brahms string quartets to the Roger Sessions solo sonata (“This is one of the best recordings of 20th-century solo violin music ever made.”—American Record Guide) and the complete Grieg sonatas (released in the fall of 2002 on the Arabesque label).Mr. Macomber has for many years been recognized as a leading advocate of the music of our time. He has performed in hundreds of premieres, commissions, and first recordings of solo violin and chamber works by, among others, Carter, Davidovsky, Perle, Wuorinen, and Mackey.As first violinist of the award-winning New World String Quartet for 11 years (1982–1993), Mr. Macomber performed the standard repertoire as well as numerous contemporary works in performances in major halls throughout the United States and Europe and, with the Quartet, was appointed artist in residence at Harvard from 1982–1990. He also recorded 14 discs and performed numerous times with the same group on public radio and television in this country and the BBC in Great Britain. Mr. Macomber is a member of the chamber music faculty of Juilliard and the violin faculty of Manhattan School of Music and has also taught at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Taos School of Music, and the Yellow Barn Music School. He holds his B.M., M.M., and D.M.A. degrees from Juilliard, where he was a scholarship student of Joseph Fuchs and winner of the Morris Loeb and Walter Naumburg prizes.