Albert Spalding (violinist)

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This article is about the American violinist. For the baseball player and manager, see Albert Spalding.

Albert Spalding (August 15, 1888-May 26, 1953) was an American violinist.

A native of Chicago, Spalding studied the violin privately in New York City and Florence, and at the conservatories in Paris and Bologna. He graduated with highest honors from the latter at fourteen. He debuted in Paris on June 6, 1906, following which he appeared successfully in London and Vienna. His first American appearance as soloist came with the New York Symphony on November 8, 1908. A year later he soloed with the Dresden Philharmonic when that orchestra toured the United States; in 1920 he appeared on the European tour of the New York Symphony. In 1922 he became the first American violinist to appear with the Paris Conservatory Orchestra; a year later he was the first American to serve on a jury at the Paris Conservatory, helping to award prizes to the graduating class of violinists. Following a concert in New York on May 26, 1950, he announced his retirement.

Spalding was the author of an autobiography, Rise to Follow, published in 1946. His novel about Giuseppe Tartini, A Fiddle, a Sword, and a Lady, appeared in 1953. He also made numerous transcriptions for his instrument. Spalding died in New York in 1953.