The Louis K. Thaler Concert Violinist Series presents Curtis Stewart, violinist and composer
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
7:00PM | Hockett Family Recital Hall
Praised for “combining omnivory and brilliance” (The New York Times ), seven-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated violinist and composer Curtis Stewart translates stories of American self-determination to the concert stage. Tearing down the facade of “classical violinist,” he treats his art as a catalyst for realizing citizenship. Passionate about elevating the voices of others, Stewart is described by The New York Times as “gregarious and charismatic, with an easygoing charm you rarely encounter in the intense, inward-facing world of classical music.”
As a solo violinist, composer, Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra, professor at The Juilliard School, and member of the award-winning PUBLIQuartet, Stewart finds personal and powerful connections among styles, cultures, and musics. He was awarded a 2025 Sphinx Medal of Excellence in recognition of extraordinary leaders in the classical music field who are transforming lives while addressing systemic obstacles within Black and Latino communities.
Stewart’s most recent project, 24 American Caprices , a contemporary response to the virtuoso violin caprice tradition, received its world premiere with the Gateways Festival Orchestra at the Eastman School of Music and Kaufman Music Center, with future performances to include Boston University Tanglewood Institute, D-Composed, and 92NY. The world premiere recording was released in summer 2026 on Bright Shiny Things, featuring Stewart alongside violinists Tai Murray, Deborah Buck, Melissa White, Njioma Grevious, Rubén Rengel, and students from The Juilliard School, Special Music School, and the Perlman Music Program. The caprices are quickly being adopted into the canon, including as audition pieces for prestigious conservatories such as The Juilliard School and Yale School of Music. Read the profile in The New York Times .
Additional highlights of Stewart’s 2026-2027 season include his appointment as Artist-in-Residence with the Wyoming Symphony; the world premiere of a Bartók recomposition with the Northwest Sinfonietta led by Jeff Meyer; the premiere of a new commission from Nova Linea Music; a solo cello work premiered by Amy Barston at The Juilliard School; and a performance of Barber's Violin Concerto with the Anchorage Symphony.
Reserve your FREE tickets here:
https://www.purplepass.com/events/386747-louis-k-thaler-concert-violinist-series-oct-7th-2026
Event venue
Hockett Family Recital Hall, 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, United States
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