JOSEPH PUGLIA, violin

Since giving his first solo performance with orchestra at age 12, violinist Joseph Puglia has been increasingly in demand as a soloist and chamber musician. His virtuoso playing and musical sincerity have led him to performances in major concert halls in the US and Europe, and moved cellist Anner Bylsma to say of his playing "Joey Puglia is the best." He was a prizewinner in the 58th Vriendenkrans Concours in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the 14th Concorso Internazionale "Andrea Postacchini" in Italy, where he was also given a special prize for his performance of Berio's Sequenza VIII for violin. Concerts in the 2007-08 season included a performance of Bartok's Sonata for Solo Violin at the Bartok Memorial House in Budapest, which led to an offer to record a disc of chamber music for the Hungaroton label, as well as an immediate invitation to return twice the following season. Further performances include appearances as the concertmaster of the Asko|Schönberg Ensemble tours of Australia, Poland, and the UK, and in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

 A native of New York City, Mr. Puglia began the violin at age 4 and was accepted to Juilliard's Pre-College division in 1994 where he studied with Louise Behrend. He has played in coachings and masterclasses led by Anner Bylsma, Pierre Boulez, Bernard Greenhouse, Joseph Kalichstein, Joel Krosnick, Seymour Lipkin, and Arnold Steinhardt, among others. In 2002, he was accepted to The Juilliard School's college division with a full scholarship where he earned his Bachelor's degree studying under Robert and Nicholas Mann, and received his Master of Music degree with the highest possible marks at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, working with Vera Beths.