Sitkovetsky, Dmitry

Sitkovetsky, Dmitry , esteemed Russian-born American violinist and conductor; b. Baku, Sept. 27, 1954. He was born into a distinguished family of musicians. His father was the violinist Julian Sitkovetsky and his mother the pianist Bella Davidovich . He was taken to Moscow where he studied at the Central Music School (1961–72). In 1966 he won first prize in the Concertino Praha Competition in Prague. After further training with Yankelevich and Bezrodny at the Moscow Cons. (1972–77), he completed his studies with Galamian at the Juilliard School in N.Y. (1977–79). In 1979 he captured first prize in the Fritz Kreisler Competition in Vienna, which led to an auspicious appearance as a soloist with the Berlin Phil, in 1980. He made his U.S. debut as a soloist with the Chicago Sym. Orch. in 1983; that same year, he was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. In 1985 he appeared for the first time at the Salzburg Festival as a soloist with the Polish Chamber Orch. In 1986 he played at the London Promenade Concerts. In 1988 he was a soloist with the N.Y. Phil. From 1992 to 1998 he was artistic advisor of the Seattle International Music Festival. He toured as a soloist with Leppard and the Indianapolis Sym. Orch. on their visit to many of the major European music centers in 1993. In addition to his numerous engagements as a soloist with the world’s principal orchs., he has appeared frequently as a recitalist. He has also given duo concerts with his mother. He likewise has devoted a portion of his career to conducting. From 1997 he served as principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Ulster Orch. in Belfast. His repertoire ranges from Bach to Prokofiev. He prepared highly effective transcriptions of Bach’s Goldberg Variations for String Trio (1984) and String Orch. (1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire