Artist Biography
Calvin Wiersma, Viola
Calvin Wiersma, violinist, has appeared throughout the world as a soloist and chamber musician. He was a founding member of the Meliora Quartet, winner of the Naumberg, Fischoff, Coleman, and Cleveland Quartet competitions. The Meliora Quartet was the Quartet-in- Residence at the Spoleto Festivals of the U.S., Italy, and Australia. Mr. Wiersma was also a founding member of the Figaro Trio and is currently a member of the Manhattan String Quartet. In addition to his worldwide touring with the Quartet and Trio, Mr. Wiersma has been heard at the summer Chamber Music Festivals in Kingston, Vancouver, Rockport, Portland, Crested Butte, Bard, Monadnock, Interlochen, Caramoor, North Country, An Appalachian Summer, June in Buffalo, and at Music Mountain, as well as the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Wiersma's wide range of musical activities have recently involved an international tour soloing with Kathleen Battle, performances at Bargemusic and with New York Philomusica, international tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the American Chamber Players, concerts and recordings with Anthony Newman, and concerts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with flutist Paula Robison. His recently completed recordings include Jacob Druckman's Third String Quartet for Philomusica, a recording of Elliott Carter's Syringa, a world premiere recording of Milton Babbit's Swan Song #1, and an album of Chamber Music of Stephen Foster with Ms. Robison for Telarc.
A noted performer of contemporary music, Mr. Wiersma is a member of Cygnus, the Lochrian Chamber Ensemble, and the Ensemble Sospeso and has appeared with Speculum Musicae, Ensemble 21, Parnassus, and the New York New Music Ensemble, has toured internationally with Steve Reich, and has been featured in solo performances for the International League of Composers of Music. Mr. Wiersma is the artistic administrator of the American Russian Young Artists Ensemble, an international chamber music group of young professionals from Russia and the United States. He is also the Music Department chair at the Bard High School Early College, an innovative new New York City Public School for gifted students, and is music education coordinator for the American Symphony Orchestra.
An active teacher as well as performer, Mr. Wiersma has been on the faculty of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Sarah Lawrence College, Florida State University, Brandeis University, the New England Conservatory, and the Longy School of Music. He has conducted clinics and master classes throughout the world, and has been an artist in residence at Middlebury College, Colgate University, the California Summer Arts Program, and the Institute for Chamber Music in Khiryat Shemona, Israel.