Oscar Shumsky

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Oscar Shumsky (March 23, 1917 – July 24, 2000) was an American violinist born in Philadelphia. He was a pupil of Leopold Auer and Efrem Zimbalist. He was well known in his field as a conductor, a teacher and a violinist. He taught at Curtis Insitute and Yale University, after serving in the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Toscanini. His fame was renewed by a series of concerts and recordings in the 1980's, and many fellow violinists consider him to be one of the great violinists of the century. Try his amazing recording of Ysaye's Solo Sonatas or re-issues of his early radio concerts to hear his power and expressive interpretation. You may find more information about him in Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians and you may find his recordings at www.shumskymusic.com.

Shumsky was probably the last of Auer's pupils. Zimbalist was also an Auer's pupil. There are several historical recordings of Shumsky on Biddulph label, and one very rare with the Primrose string quartet (Shumsky was the first violin).