Olevsky, Julian, 1926-1985

Julian Olevsky was appointed Professor of Violin at the University of Massachusetts at the height of his performing career in 1967. He was a member of the Music faculty until his death at the age of 59 in May 1985. During these years he taught many talented violinists who are now teachers or performers with leading national and international symphony orchestras.

Born in Berlin in 1926, Olvesky played his debut in Buenos Aires, Argentina at age ten under the baton of Fritz Busch. In the course of successive world wide tours he appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Montreal orchestras; the Vienna and Japan Philharmonics; and the Gewandhaus Orchestra under the distinguished batons of Fritz Reiner, Enrique Jorda, William Steinberg, Seiji Ozawa, and Zubin Mehta.

Olevsky's recordings include all Bach Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas, The Complete Mozart Works for Violin and Piano (with pianist Estela Kersenbaum Olevsky), Twelve Vivaldi Concerti, Mendelssohn, Lalo, Wieniawski, Brahms, and Bruch Concerti as well as shorter works by Fritz Kreisler.

From the guide to the Julian Olevsky Score Collection MS 438., 1898-1966, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries)