Acclaimed violinist, Emil Altschuler, performs with incredible technique, magnificent expression and a profound artistry across a wide-ranging repertoire. The Boston Globe writes “top notch” of Altschuler’s performance. The Strad praises “Passion and portamento from a young American violinist”, and The Whole Note writes “There’s a decidedly old-style feel to…very reminiscent of Heifetz.” Erick Friedman, master violinist and protégé of the legendary Jascha Heifetz, wrote “…a truly outstanding violinist of his generation…and sound and accuracy of intonation that are truly extraordinary.”
He received his Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School where he studied with Dorothy DeLay and Naoko Tanaka, and his Masters of Music from The Yale School of Music, studying under Erick Friedman.
His brilliant technique and vigorous performances received energetic ovations in venues such as Lincoln Center, San Francisco’s Helen Von Ammon’s Emerging Artist Series, The Aspen Music Festival, and Italy’s Castello di Galeazza. As a featured soloist, he has appeared with the Aspen Young Artist’s Orchestra, the Binghamton Philharmonic, Binghamton University Chamber Orchestra, Parkway Concert Orchestra, Harvard Summer School Orchestra, Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra, Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, and the Young Artists Debut Orchestra.
Emil maintains an active career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician. He served as concertmaster of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra under Max Hobart and Mark Latham, and he has been invited to perform in the Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Italy. As a recitalist, he has collaborated with pianists Ayke Agus and Thomas Pandolfi among others.
His debut album “Emil Altschuler – Violin”, includes works by Paganini, Wieniawski, Massenet, and Vivaldi, and his second solo album includes music by Ravel, Albeniz, Poulenc, Bartok. He also recorded “Diablo y Tango” with guitar, which included works by de Falla and Piazzolla. He was selected by renowned author and violin pedagogue Janice Tucker Rhoda to record ‘The ABCs of Violin for the Absolute Beginner’ Books 1 and 3, published by Carl Fischer Music.
Extensively involved in music education, he currently teaches chamber music at NEC Prep and Expanded Education, and is a violin/viola instructor at Dana Hall School of Music, The Fenn School, and Star Academy. He has served as Head of Strings for the Festival Youth Orchestra, instructor at Northeastern University, Tufts University Community Music Program, as well as orchestral coach for the Tufts Youth Philharmonic. In 2017, he served as artist faculty at InterHarmony.
One of his students became the youngest violinist ever accepted into the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra under Benjamin Zander, and was invited to appear on NPR’s From the Top with host Christopher O’Riley. Another won the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra competition, and others won concertmaster and principal 2nd positions at the Tufts Youth Philharmonic. His former students also attend Harvard University and Dartmouth College.
In 2019, he founded and launched the Altschuler Summer Music Institute (ASMI), a highly successful international festival in Italy. It welcomes amateurs, students and professionals alike into a diverse, inclusive, and immersive program, with an intense yet fun atmosphere. They are engaged in private lessons, masterclasses, chamber ensembles, and orchestra with world-renowned faculty. Students perform masterpieces of the past as well as contemporary music in historic venues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ASMI was one of the first organizations to host online masterclasses, including teachers from The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bologna Conservatory, Pesaro Conservatory, and SookMyung Women’s University, and the Royal College of Music, among others. ASMI has been hosted in Rimini and Premilcuore, and has been invited to collaborate at prestigious conservatories in Italy this summer (2025). For more info, visit www.altschulersummermusicinstitute.com
As an offshoot of his institute, Emil tours extensively in the ASMI Chamber Ensemble with pianist Thomas Pandolfi, and cellist Sam Ou, and other faculty members. The ensemble has performed at the Utica Chamber Music Society, Portsmouth Athenaeum Chamber Music, and Jacksonville Oregon Friends of Classical Music. This fall they will perform and teach masterclasses in Georgia at Emory College and Tuesday’s Music Live. They also invite colleagues and students from ASMI to perform with them in larger chamber pieces.
Emil lives with his family in Natick, MA, where he maintains an active private studio and teaches online. In his free time, he enjoys reading, investing, and spending time with his family. For more information, visit www.emilaltschuler.com.