Alexander Chuhaldin

Alexander Gregorovitch Chuhaldin (27 August 1892 – 20 January 1951) was a Russian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator who later emigrated to Canada. He spent his early career working in his native country but after 1927 he was active in Canada. His compositional output includes over 30 works for string orchestra; many of which were published by Carl Fischer Music. He also composed five pieces for solo violin which were published by Paling & Co in Australia and more recently by Thompson Publishing Group in Canada.

Life and career Born in Vladikavkaz, Chuhaldin was the son of a Tsarist and White Army officer, Gregory Ivanovitch Chuhaldin, stationed there in a Cossack regiment, and of Maria Ivanovna Chuhaldina (née Rasskazova). He was a child prodigy and began studying the violin with Julius Conus at the Moscow Conservatory at just eight years of age.

Chuhaldin gave his first public recital at the age of nine and quickly became active on the concert stage. In 1913 he joined the orchestra of the Imperial Grand Opera at the Bolshoi Theatre. He eventually served as the ensemble's concertmaster from 1922 to 1924. He joined the faculty of the Moscow Conservatory in 1923 where he remained for two years.

Chuhaldin escaped via Harbin, China, in 1924 with only his violin and the clothes on his back. He gave an extensive recital tour 1925-7, appearing in concerts throughout Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 1927 the Chuhaldins moved to Canada and he began teaching privately and performing in the city of Toronto. He eventually was invited to join the faculty of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, where he taught such notable musicians as Murray Adaskin, Harry Bergart, Isidor Desser, Betty-Ann Fischer-Byfield, Hyman Goodman, Blain Mathé, Albert Pratz, and Ivan Romanoff.