Michael Klotz

Viola

Born in 1978 in Rochester, NY, Michael Klotz made his solo debut with the Rochester Philharmonic at the age of 17. He has also appeared as soloist with the Miami Symphony, Eastman Philharmonia, Mannes Bach Festival Orchestra, Bowdoin Festival Orchestra, and World Youth Symphony in London, England. Of a recent performance of the Brandenburg concerto No. 6 with distinguished violist Roberto Diaz, the Portland Press-Herald proclaimed, "this concert squelched all viola jokes, now and forever, due to the talents of Diaz and Klotz."

Passionately dedicated to chamber music, Michael Klotz joined the internationally renowned Amernet String Quartet in 2002. In addition Klotz has performed at some of New York's most important venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Weill Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, MOMA, Bargemusic, and the Kosciuzsko Foundation. Festival appearances include Newport, Caramoor, Great Lakes, Skaneateles, Beverly Hills, Music Mountain, Bowdoin, Sarasota, Music Academy of the West, and Miami Mainly Mozart. Michael has collaborated with artists such as the Ying Quartet, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Andres Diaz, Roberto Diaz, James Tocco, David Jolley, Joel Smirnoff, Clive Greensmith, Todd Palmer, Zvi Zeitlin, Fred Sherry, Toby Appel, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Sergiu Schwartz, Anthony McGill, and members of the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, MET Orchestra, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, Michael was invited by Maestro Jaime Laredo to perform with distinguished alumni at the 30th anniversary concert of the New York String Orchestra Seminar in Carnegie Hall.

Michael Klotz is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he was awarded the Performer's Certificate. In 2002 he became one of the few individuals to be awarded a double Masters Degree in violin and viola from The Juilliard School. Also a dedicated teacher, Michael is Artist-in-Residence at FIU where he teaches viola and chamber music. He is also a member of the artist faculty of the Bowdoin International Music Festival amd the Beverly Hills International Music Festival. His students are attending prestigious conservatories such as The Curtis Institute, Indiana University, and Cleveland Institute of Music and are participating in leading festivals as well as winning major competitions. Michael performs on a 1619 Antonio and Hieronymus Amati viola, graciously on loan from Peter Kamnitzer of the LaSalle Quartet; one of Michael's mentors.

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