Miriam Fried, violin

Miriam Fried has been recognized for years as one of the world’s preeminent violinists. A consummate musician–equally accomplished as recitalist, concerto soloist, or chamber musician–she has been heralded for her “fiery intensity and emotional depth” (Musical America) as well as for her technical mastery. Fried has played with virtually every major orchestra in the United States and Europe and has been a frequent guest with the principal orchestras of Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, as well as with the Israel Philharmonic, the London Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Vienna Symphony.

Chamber music plays an important role in Fried’s musical life. She was a member of the Mendelssohn String Quartet and has collaborated with such distinguished artists as Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zukerman, Garrick Ohlsson, Nathaniel Rosen, and her husband, violinist/violist Paul Biss. She has been featured guest artist at Chamber Music East in Boston, the La Jolla Chamber Music Society SummerFest, the Lockenhaus Festival, and the Naantali Festival in Finland. Recital tours have taken her to all of the major music centers in North America and to Brussels, London, Milan, Munich, Rome, Paris, Salzburg, Stockholm, and Zurich.

Winner of first prizes at Genoa’s Paganini International Competition and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Competition, Miriam Fried has served as Artistic Director and Chair of the faculty of the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival since 1993.