David Updegraff
Violin

American violinist David Updegraff has won a distinguished reputation for his wide scope of musical achievement. As a recitalist, he has performed widely to critical acclaim in major cities of the United States and Europe. As a featured soloist with a number of American orchestras, he has performed works ranging from Bach to Sibelius. A strong proponent for contemporary music, Mr. Updegraff has had the privilege of playing many world premieres of works by prominent American composers. In addition he has played many radio broadcasts and has recorded on the First Edition label.

Mr. Updegraff began teaching as the assistant to Paul Makanowitzky, and has since achieved an international reputation as a teacher of distinction. His students have soloed with such orchestras as The Berlin Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Louisville Orchestra. Former students have also gone on to serve in prominent positions in the Philharmonia Orchestra of London (UK) [Principal 2nd]; The Cleveland Orchestra [Principal 2nd]; The Toronto Symphony; The Atlanta Symphony [Asst. Principal 2nd]; The Baltimore Symphony and many others. His former students have taught in full-time tenure track appointments in such schools as Cornell University, The Ohio State University, The University of Toledo and Mercyhurst College to name a few.

Mr. Updegraff has judged such competitions as : The Sion Valais (Switzerland) International Violin Competition, The Chicago Symphony Young Artists Competitions, The William Byrd Competition, The Julius Stulberg Young Artists Competition, The Lennox International, The Midland-Odessa Competition and many more. His students have been winners and laureates in numerous International and National competitions the most recent being: The Nederlands Viool Competitie, the Fischoff (Chamber Music) Competition, the Tibor Varga International Competition and the Gyeongnam International Music Competition.

In 1987 Mr. Updegraff was appointed Professor of Violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has been Chairman of the Violin Department at CIM from 1988 to the present. Previously he taught at The University of Louisville and Western Michigan University. He spends his summers teaching at the ENCORE School for Strings in Hudson, Ohio where he has been on the faculty since 1986.

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