Eugene Fodor

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This article is about the violinist. For the travel writer, see Eugene Fodor (writer).

Eugene Fodor (born March 5, 1950 in Turkey Creek, Colorado) is an American violin virtuoso.

Fodor's first ten years of study were with Harold Wippler. He then studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, Indiana University and the University of Southern California, where his teachers included Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold and Jascha Heifetz, respectively.

Fodor made his solo debut with the Denver Symphony at the age of ten, playing the Bruch Concerto and began touring as a soloist while still a young teenager.

Fodor won numerous national contests before the age of seventeen, including first Prize in both the Merriweather Post Competition in Washington, D.C. and the Young Musicians Foundation Competition in Los Angeles, California.

Appears on SCTV Episode # 92, broadcast 11/20/1981.

He went on to win first prize in the International Paganini Competition in Italy in 1972, at the age of 22. It was his win at the Paganini competition that gained him widespread public attention. He achieved the highest prize awarded in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1974 in Moscow, Russia. This award raised his profile further, especially considering that he was an American winning the top Soviet prize during the height of the Cold War. Fodor was also awarded the European Soloist award "Prix Europeen du Soliste" in January, 1999.

Fodor's career was disrupted in 1989, when he was arrested for possession of over 20 grams of cocaine and a hypodermic needle with a small amount of heroin.

[edit] Selected discography

Fodor's recordings include six albums for RCA Red Seal
other labels include Sony Essential, Clarity, Laurel
contemporary sonatas
several recital albums
Bach Violin Concertos
the Nielsen Violin Concerto (2001, Grazioso Records 72601)
Lalo: Symphony espagnole / Sibelius: Violin Concerto (2000, Grazioso Records 61501)
Brahms: Complete Sonatas for Violin & Piano (1996, Clarity Records 1014)
the Concertos of Brahms, Sibelius and the first two concertos of Paganini with the Kiev Philharmonic
Love Fodor Style (2002, Grazioso Records 95143)
Instrument of the Angels (2001, Grazioso Records 81904, famous gospel pieces)