05-05-10
Calvin Wiersma
Calvin Wiersma, violinist, has appeared throughout the world as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed numerous solo recitals, including appearances in Boston, New York, and Chicago, and has appeared with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, The Concerto Company of Boston, and the Lawrence Symphony, among others. In addition to his current membership with the Manhattan String Quartet, he was a founding member of the Meliora Quartet, winner of the Naumburg, Fischoff, Coleman, and Cleveland Quartet competitions, and the Quartet-in-Residence of the Spoleto Festivals of the U.S., Italy, and Australia, and was also a founding member of the Figaro Trio.
In addition to his worldwide touring with the MSQ, Mr. Wiersma has been heard at numerous summer Chamber Music Festivals including the Aspen Music Festival and the Vancouver, Rockport, Bard, Portland, Crested Butte, North Country, Central Vermont,New Hope, Interlochen, Prairie School, An Appalachian Summer, Cape May, and Music Mountain Festivals to name but a few. Former member of New York Philomusica, and frequent performer at Bargemusic, he has also performed with the Da Camera Society of Houston, the Brandenburg All Stars in sold out performances in New York City, the Sea Cliff Chamber Players, The Festival Chamber Music Society, The Chamber Music Society of New Hope, the Carnegie Chamber Players, and Close Encounters with Music.
Mr. Wiersma’s wide range of musical activities have recently involved an international tour soloing with Kathleen Battle, national and international tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, appearances at the Berkshire Bach Festival performing the complete Brandenburg concertos, and concerts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with flutist Paula Robison. His recently completed recordings include Jacob Druckman’s Third String Quartet for Philomusica, a recording of Elliott Carter’s Syringa, Swan Song by Milton Babbitt, a recording of chamber music of Nils Vigeland, and an album of Chamber Music of Stephen Foster with Ms. Robison for Telarc.
A noted performer of contemporary music, Mr. Wiersma is a member of Cygnus, the Lochrian Chamber Ensemble, and has appeared with Speculum Musicae, Ensemble 21, Parnassus, Ensemble Sospeso, and the New York New Music Ensemble. He has recently completed European tours with Steve Reich and Ensemble 21, and has been featured in solo performances for the International League of Composers of Music.
Mr. Wiersma was the creator of the Music program and initial Music Department chair at the Bard High School Early College, an innovative New York City Public School for gifted students, and has been a music education coordinator for the American Symphony Orchestra.
An active teacher as well as performer, Mr. Wiersma is an Assistant Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at the Purchase Conservatory of Music, and has been on the faculties of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Florida State University, Brandeis University, the New England Conservatory, and the Longy School of Music. He has conducted clinics and master classes throughout the world, and has been an artist in residence at numerous institutions, including Middlebury College, Colgate University, the California Summer Arts Program, the Smolny Institute in Moscow, Russia, and the Institute for Chamber Music in Khiryat Shemona, Israel.