James Ehnes

James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after violinists on the international stage.

Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favorite guest at the world’s most celebrated concert halls.

Recent orchestral highlights include the MET Orchestra at Carnegie Hall with Gianandrea Noseda, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig with Alexander Shelley, San Francisco Symphony with Marek Janowski, Frankfurt Radio Symphony with Andrés Orozco-Estrada, London Symphony with Daniel Harding, and Munich Philharmonic with Jaap van Zweden.

 

Alongside his concerto work, Ehnes maintains a busy recital schedule, performing regularly at the Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center Chicago, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg, Verbier Festival, and the Festival de Pâques in Aix.

In addition to his solo work, Ehnes is the Artistic Director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with leading artists such as Leif Ove Andsnes, Renaud Capuçon, Nikolai Lugansky, Yo-Yo Ma, and Yuja Wang. In 2010, he formally established the Ehnes Quartet.

Ehnes has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings including 2 GRAMMY awards, a Gramophone award, and 11 Juno awards. Recent releases include three volumes of Beethoven Sonatas with pianist Andrew Armstrong, and concerti by Kernis, Howard, Strauss, and Beethoven.

 

Ehnes began violin studies at the age of five and became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin. He continued his studies with Sally Thomas at the Meadowmount School of Music and The Juilliard School, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music upon his graduation in 1997. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of both the Order of Manitoba and the Order of Canada.

 

Ehnes plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715.