Harold Sumberg
Harold Sumberg (August 25, 1905 – January 6, 1994) was an American-born Canadian violinist, teacher, conductor, and adjudicator.[1]
Born in Rochester, New York, he studied violin with Carl Markees, Henry Holst, and Willy Hess at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin (now the Berlin University of the Arts). Sumberg taught for many years at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and founded the Conservatory String Quartet in 1929.
He performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as principal second violin (1931-1957) and then associate concertmaster (1961-1975). He performed as a soloist and collaborated with many important musicians, such as Glenn Gould. In 1967 he recorded with Duke Ellington on Ellington’s "North of the Border" album. He adjudicated at festivals including "Canadian Open Old Time Fiddlers' Contest" 1955-84.
Sumberg was also known for his collection of fine violin bows. He often played on a Collin-Mezin violin, though it was not the finest instrument in his collection, which may have been a superb violin bearing the label Lorenzo Guadagnini, on which he played for many years.
He died in Toronto, Ontario in 1994. He was buried in the Mount Sinai Memorial Park.
References
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
- Canadian classical violinists
- Canadian male classical violinists
- 1905 births
- 1994 deaths
- Academic staff of The Royal Conservatory of Music
- Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin alumni
- 20th-century classical violinists
- 20th-century Canadian male musicians
- 20th-century Canadian violinists and fiddlers
- Canadian male violinists and fiddlers
- American emigrants to Canada
- Berlin University of the Arts alumni
- Concertmasters of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra