click here for an expanded bio

Internationally renowned violinist Jacques Israelievitch is one of the most distinguished performing artists in North America and abroad.  After making his debut on French National Radio at the age of eleven, Mr. Israelievitch went on to graduate from the Paris Conservatory at sixteen and was subsequently prizewinner at the International Paganini Competition.  His teachers include Henryk Szeryng, Janos Starker, William Primrose, and Josef Gingold.

As a soloist, Mr. Israelievitch has collaborated with Solti, Giulini, Slatkin, Davis, and Frühbeck de Burgos, appearing with many of the world’s major orchestras.  As a distinguished chamber musician, he has performed with Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, and Yo-Yo Ma, and is violinist for the twice Naumburg Award recipient New Arts Trio.

Mr. Israelievitch served as Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for a record-setting twenty years, and was formerly Assistant Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for six years and Concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for ten years.   He is currently chair of strings at the Chautauqua Institution and a full-time faculty member at York University in Toronto.  In growing demand as a conductor, he has been Music Director of the Koffler Chamber Orchestra since 2005.

Mr. Israelievitch’s discography features more than 100 albums including the Juno Award nominated Suite Hebraique and the first-ever complete recording of Kreutzer's 42 Studies for solo violin.  He has premiered and recorded several concertos such as R. Murray Schafer’s The Darkly Splendid Earth: The Lonely Traveler.

In 2004, the French government named Mr. Israelievitch Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters.  He is also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished contribution to the performing arts in Canada.