Shtrum, Haim (1939-Present)

Composer, concertmaster, conductor and violinist who emigrated to the United States from his home town of Tel Aviv, Israel, to enroll in the Julliard School of Music. After graduation, he became an artist-in-residence with the University of Delaware String Quartet.

Bigger things were on the horizon for Shtrum. He joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and shortly thereafter the St. Clair String Quartet. He also continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he studied composition.

Hollywood beckoned. While composing numerous modern classical works such as “Continuum”, “Contours”, “Preludes”, “Symphony in G”, and “Toccata for Violin and Piano”, in order to put bread on the table, Haim became increasingly in demand as a session violinist.

The wide and variegated list of artists and groups he has worked with includes Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera, Paul Anka, Burt Bacharach, Beyonce, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, The Carpenters, Ray Charles, Chicago, Eric Clapton, Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, Harry Connick, Jr., Chick Corea, Elvis Costello, Christopher Cross, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, The Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sheena Easton, The Gap Band, Macy Gray, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, Michael Jackson, Al Jarreau, Billy Joel, Ricky Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Earl Klugh, Live, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, The Manhattan Transfer, Barry Manilow, Ricky Martin, Better Midler, Meat Loaf, Joni Mitchell, Steve Perry, Diana Ross, Ben Sidran, Doc Severinsen, J.D. Souther, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Teena Marie, Texas, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Village People, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, and Neil Young.

His film credits include Agent Cody Banks, Beyond Borders, Blade II, Brubaker, The Doghouse, Dreamers, Dreamgirls, In the Bedroom, The Island, Jarhead, King Kong (2005), Letters From Iwo Jima, Life, March of the Penguins, Men in Black, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Nunzio, Rocky, The Scorpion King, and Surviving Christmas.

His vast and eclectic recording career has afforded him the luxury of pursuing artistic endeavors with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the San Luis Obispo Orchestra, the South Bay Chamber Music Society, which premiered his “Prelude and Tango for Amplified Violin and Guitar” in March 1987, the Traction Avenue Chamber Orchestra, for which he has served as concertmaster and violinist, and the UCLA faculty’s string quartet.

Gamers may have even heard him without knowing it: He played violin on the soundtrack to Activision’s Spider-Man 2.

The Gap Band recordings
Baby Baba Boogie (Lonnie Simmons/Charlie Wilson)

Lalo Schifrin recordings
Love Rhapsody from “The Concorde – Airport ’79” (Lalo Schifrin)
Theme from “The Concorde – Airport ’79” (Lalo Schifrin)

Sources:

Shtrum, Haim (1939-Present)

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