Rafael Druian

Rafael Druian (January 20, 1923 – September 8, 2003), was an American violinist, conductor and music educator. He is remembered for his tenures as concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony and Minneapolis Symphony under Antal Dorati, the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell and the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez.

Life and career

Early career Druian was born in Vologda, Russia but immigrated with his parents to Havana, Cuba as an infant. He began his formal music training there as a violinist, studying with Amadeo Roldán, the conductor of the Havana Philharmonic. At age 9, he went to Philadelphia to audition for Leopold Stokowski, who recommended him for a scholarship at the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Lea Luboshutz and Efrem Zimbalist, graduating in 1942. He then served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, playing the mellophone in the Army Band.

Concertmaster positions Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under Antal Doráti: 1947 – 1949 Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, under Antal Doráti: 1949 – 1960 Cleveland Orchestra, under George Szell: 1960 – 1969 New York Philharmonic, under Pierre Boulez: 1971 – 1974

Academic and faculty positions University of Minnesota Cleveland Institute of Music, Artist in Residence California Institute of the Arts, Associate Dean of the Music School, 1969 – 1971 Blossom Music Festival, Kent, Ohio Kent State University State University of New York at Purchase University of California, San Diego, Professor of Music, 1974 – 1980 The Hartt School Tanglewood "Berkshire Music Center" 1981?-1984 Boston University, 1982? – 1989 Curtis Institute of Music, 1990 – 2001

Notable students Karen Iglitzin of the Philadelphia String Quartet Philip Setzer of the Emerson String Quartet Herald Klein Solomiya Ivakhiv

Personal life Druian was married to Phyllis Rugg Druian. They had two sons, Peter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Greg of Portland, Oregon.

Discography Solo with orchestra Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364; Druian, (violin); Abraham Skernick, (viola); Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, (conductor); Epic/Columbia/CBS/Sony, recorded Nov. 28, 1963; This record was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Classical Performance for Soloists with Orchestra" in 1965. Rimsky Korsakov "Scheherazade" featuring violin solo; with Minneapolis Symphony, Antal Dorati, conductor Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake" Ballet, including violin solo; Minneapolis Symphony, Antal Dorati, conductor

Sonatas and solos with piano Robert Schumann Violin Sonata 1 and Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata 2; Druian (violin); John Simms, (piano); Mercury - MG50091. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Sonatas, K. 301 & 296; Druian (violin), George Szell (piano) (1967) The following six recordings with Druian (violin) and John Simms (piano) are listed through this link: Ernest Bloch Violin Sonatas 1,2 George Enescu Sonata no.3; and Leoš Janáček JW VII/7; Schubert: Fantasy in C major/Duo Sonata/ Robert Schumann Violin Sonata no.1; Brahms Sonata no.2 Charles Ives Violin Sonatas 2,3 and 4; Mercury - MG50096, MG50097, released in 1957. Quincy Porter, Bartok, Ravel Violin Sonatas