The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music has appointed
Joseph Swensen as visiting professor of violin. The New Jersey-born
violinist, composer and conductor will start his position in the
autumn of 2013.
Swensen is currently conductor emeritus of the Scottish Chamber
Orchestra (SCO). He was the SCO's principal conductor from 1996 to
2005, and has also held conducting posts with the Orchestre de
Chambre de Paris, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the BBC National
Orchestra of Wales.
Before turning to conducting, Swensen enjoyed a career as a solo
violinist and chamber musician. He trained at Juilliard under
Dorothy DeLay, and studied chamber music with Robert Mann, Leonard
Rose and Felix Galimir. He also studied privately with Isaac Stern
over a ten-year period.
Swensen recently returned to performing as a solo violinist, joining the London Mozart Players in February 2013 for two performances of the Brahms Violin Concerto. He has also formed a new trio with pianist Jeffrey Kahane and cellist Carter Brey.
As a composer, Swensen's works for strings include
Mantram (1998) for string orchestra and percussion, and
Latif (1999) for solo cello with chamber ensemble.
photo: Jack Dine
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