James Oliver Buswell IV (December 4, 1946 – September 28, 2021
) was an American violinist, chamber musician, conductor and educator.
Biography
Buswell learned violin at age five. His solo debut took place with the
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
at the age of seven. When he was 18, he appeared as soloist on one of the New York Philharmonic's
Young People's Concerts
The Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic are the longest-running series of family concerts of classical music in the world.
Genesis
They began in 1924 under the direction of "Uncle" Ernest Schelling. Earlier Family Matinees had ...
performing
Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sym ...
's Violin Concerto in E minor with
Leonard Bernstein conducting. This performance was televised and shown throughout the United States. He later studied with
Mary Canberg
Mary Canberg (1918 – 15 June 2004) was an American violinist, conductor, and music educator.
Canberg was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She studied with Michael Press and Hans Letz at the Juilliard School in New York City and made her profe ...
,
Paul Stassevich, and
Ivan Galamian at the
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...
and was a graduate of
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
.
He was also a Grammy nominated recording artist for the
Barber Violin Concerto
The ''Barber Violin Concerto'' is a ballet made by New York City Ballet ballet master in chief Peter Martins to Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto, Op. 14 (1939). The premiere was conducted by Robert Irving and took place on 12 May 1988 at the New ...
with the
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) ( gd, Orcastra Nàiseanta Rìoghail na h-Alba) is a British orchestra, based in Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of the five national performing arts companies of Scotland. Throughout its history, the O ...
.
Buswell was on the faculties of University of Arizona,
Indiana University School of Music (1973–1986) and the
New England Conservatory (1987–2014).
Most recently, he was on the faculty of the
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University with his wife, cellist Carol Ou.
He and his wife had four children (Anna Buswell, William Buswell, Joshua Buswell, and Rachel English) and four grandchildren.
James died September 28, 2021, in Boston.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Buswell, James
1946 births
2021 deaths
American classical violinists
American male classical violinists
21st-century classical violinists
20th-century classical violinists
21st-century American male musicians
20th-century American male musicians
Musicians from Fort Wayne, Indiana
Juilliard School alumni
Harvard University alumni
Indiana University Bloomington faculty
New England Conservatory faculty
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development faculty
Classical musicians from Indiana
20th-century American violinists
21st-century American violinists