Leonard Sorkin
Encyclopedia
Leonard Sorkin was an accomplished American violinist
.
Sorkin was born in Chicago
in 1916. He received violin training from Mischa Mischakoff
. At the age of 18, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, where he remained until 1943. Sorkin served as concertmaster
of the ABC Symphony from 1946 to 1954. In 1946, he helped found the Fine Arts Quartet
, in which he played first violin until 1982. In 1983, Sorkin became founding director of the Institute of Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Sorkin was married to Aviva Dolnick Sorkin (died March 16, 2009), who danced for many years with the Sybil Shearer
Dance Company. He died in 1985 of cancer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
.
Sorkin was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1916. He received violin training from Mischa Mischakoff
Mischa Mischakoff
Mischa Mischakoff was an outstanding violinist and concertmaster for 70 years, from the age of ten until the age of eighty....
. At the age of 18, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, where he remained until 1943. Sorkin served as concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
of the ABC Symphony from 1946 to 1954. In 1946, he helped found the Fine Arts Quartet
Fine Arts Quartet
The Fine Arts Quartet, a distinguished chamber music ensemble founded in Chicago, USA in 1946 by Leonard Sorkin and George Sopkin, has an illustrious history of performing success and an extensive recording legacy. It is one of the few to have recorded and toured internationally for over half a...
, in which he played first violin until 1982. In 1983, Sorkin became founding director of the Institute of Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Sorkin was married to Aviva Dolnick Sorkin (died March 16, 2009), who danced for many years with the Sybil Shearer
Sybil Shearer
Sybil Shearer was hailed as a "maverick" or "mystic" of modern dance...
Dance Company. He died in 1985 of cancer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Awards
- New York Times Chamber Music Record of the Year
- Wisconsin Governor's Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Performing Arts
- Artist-Teacher of the Year, American String Teachers Association