Thomas Zehetmair (Violin soloist)
Thomas Zehetmair (born 23 November 1961, Salzburg) is an Austrian
violinist and conductor. He studied at the Salzburg Mozarteum, where both of his
parents taught. His festival debut was at age 16. He was in master classes with
Nathan Milstein and Max Rostal. In 1994, Zehetmair formed a string quartet which
bears his name. The Zehetmair Quartet performs all works entirely from memory,
and learns one new programme a year.
Zehetmair has made several
recordings for ECM, both as soloist and with his quartet. Zehetmair later
developed a parallel career in conducting. In November 2001, he was named Music
Director and chief conductor of the Northern Sinfonia (now the Royal Northern
Sinfonia), his first conducting post, starting with the 2002-2003 season, for an
initial contract of 3 years and 6 weeks of concerts each season.
In
August 2005, he extended his contract for another 3 years through 2008. He
concluded his music directorship of the Royal Northern Sinfonia after the
2013-2014 season, and now has the title of conductor laureate with the
orchestra. He became an Artistic Partner of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in
Minnesota in 2010.
In June 2015, the Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur
announced the appointment of Zehetmair as its next principal conductor,
effective September 2016, with an initial contract of 3 seasons. Zehetmair is
married to the violist Ruth Killius, who is also a member of the Zehetmair
Quartet. He holds honorary doctorates from the Music Academy Franz Liszt in
Weimar and Newcastle University.
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