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Internationally renowned violinist Jacques Israelievitch has enjoyed an exciting and varied career as concertmaster, soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and conductor.  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.

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 teaches and performs each summer at the Chautauqua Institution and is a faculty member at the University of Toronto and York University.  In growing demand as a conductor, he has been Music Director of the Koffler Chamber Orchestra since 2005.

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.  He is violinist for the New Arts Trio.

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.