Frisch, Roger

He is a violinist who studied first which his father who had been a longtime member of the Pittsburgh Symphony as Associate Concertmaster and went on to earn his Bachelor of Music degree at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He then earned his Master of Music degree at Indiana University.

In 1974 he became a violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra and after taking a year out to hold the position of Concertmaster with the Milwaukee Symphony for the 1994-95 season was appointed Associate Concertmaster once back with the orchestra in 1995. In 2009, after suffering from a tremor disorder which stopped him controlling the movement in his hands, he underwent a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS) where and electrode was implanted in his brain. During this brain surgery he stayed conscious the whole time and performed on the violin throughout with a specially designed bow that would allow the surgeons to monitor the tremor while operating. The operation was a success and before long he returned to continue playing with the Minnesota Orchestra. He has since retired after 35 years of service.

A busy soloist, he gave his solo debut performance with the Minnesota Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 1992, performing more than 25 solo works after that. He also performed nationally and internationally as a soloist with many other orchestras.

As a chamber musician he co-founded the Minneapolis Arts Ensemble, which he has made several recordings with, as well as performing and touring the United States and Ukraine with the Kairos Trio which comprises himself, the pianist Herbert Johnson and the flutist Michele Antonello Frisch.

Participating in music festivals he has been a concertmaster and soloist at the Wintergreen Music Festival for five seasons and a soloist at the Master Works and Credo music festivals. He has also been a soloist at the Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory.

Recordings he has performed on include Ars Antiqua 20th Anniversary Compact Disc by David DeBoor Canfield, Aida by Elton John and Tim Rice, The Minnesota Composers Forum Presents The Minneapolis Arts Ensemble by The Minneapolis Arts Ensemble, The Moment Is Mine by Chante Moore, St. Paul by St. Paul and the 1994 cast recording of Hello Dolly!

In the field of musical education he is a private violin tutor, has been on the faculty of the Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory and presented numerous master classes, including at Sydney Conservatory in Australia. He is a coach for musicians taking professional auditions and wrote the downloadable book Mastering the Orchestra Audition.

Sources:

Frisch, Roger

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