MARTIN CHALIFOUR holds the prestigious post of Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1995. He previously held the positions of Associate and Acting Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony, and more recently with the Cleveland Orchestra. In addition to his orchestral schedule, Mr. Chalifour maintains an active career as a guest soloist and chamber musician, traveling across his native Canada, the U.S. as well as Europe, Australia, Mexico and the Orient.
Mr. Chalifour received a Certificate of Honor at the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and was a laureate of the 1987 Montreal International Competition. Since then he has concertized extensively, playing in a short time span more than a hundred concerto performances in a repertoire of more than fifty works. He appeared as soloist with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach and Esa-Pekka Salonen. In recent years he had solo debuts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Taipei National Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia.
Chalifour is often heard in recitals and is a frequent guest with chamber ensembles throughout North America and Europe. He participates regularly in a number of summer music festivals including the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego and the Sarasota Music Festival. Over the years he has collaborated in chamber music with flutist Emmanuel Pahud, violists Yuri Bashmet and Paul Neubauer, pianists Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman, as well as cellists Janos Starker, Lynn Harrell and YoYo Ma.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Martin Chalifour began playing violin at the age of four with the Suzuki Method. At the age of eighteen, he was awarded three distinct top national awards in a single year including the Tremplin International, subsequently graduating from the Montreal Conservatory with the highest honors. He then did graduate studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His teachers have included Jascha Brodsky, David Cerone, Taras Gabora and Ivan Galamian.
Mr. Chalifour is a regular featured soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at home and on tour. He is a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music and was formerly on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. He recently completed a very successful series of concerts entitled “The Three Concertmasters” with colleagues from the Atlanta Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra, culminating in an acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall. Last season he made his debut with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur..
Mchalifour@aol.com
SANTA MONICA SYMPHONY Sixtieth Anniversary Season 2004-2005
Sunday, October 10, 2004 - Opening Gala Concert
... Soloist: Martin Chalifour, violin
...... William Schuman: New England Triptych
...... Peter Knell: Rhythm Changes (premiere)
...... Ravel: Tzigane
INTERMISSION
...... Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 3 ('Rhenish')
Sunday, December 12, 2004 - A Salute to the Community
... with the Crossroads Chamber Orchestra
... Jubilant Sykes, baritone
...... Chen Yi: Momentum
...... Tchaikovsky: Souvenirs of Florence
INTERMISSION
...... Dvorak: Symphony No. 8
Sunday, March 13, 2005
... Catherine Del Russo, oboe ~ Gary Bovyer, clarinet
... David Riddles, bassoon ~ Joseph Meyer, horn
...... Mozart: Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
...... Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe, Clarinet , Bassoon and Horn
INTERMISSION
...... Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
Sunday, May 29, 2005
... Elin Carlson, soprano ~ Tracy Van Fleet, mezzo-soprano
... Jonathan Mack, tenor ~ Jinyoung Jang, bass-baritone
... Santa Monica College Chorale, James Smith, Director
... Occidental-Foothill Master Chorale, Jeffrey Bernstein, Director
...... Wagner: Orchestral Excerpts from Die Meistersinger
...... Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
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