SPOTLIGHT ON CONCERTMASTER GABRIEL LEFKOWITZ

by Michelle Winters

A native of the Boston area, violinist Gabriel Lefkowitz is in his fifth season as Concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra. A versatile musician of the 21st century, Lefkowitz is also an active soloist, conductor, and composer. Highlights of Lefkowitz's 2019-20 season included performances of the Stravinsky Violin Concerto and a return to the podium as conductor for a program of Mendelssohn, Haydn, and Brahms as part of the LO's far reaching Republic Bank Music Without Borders Series. He also performed as soloist in the Ohio Premiere of the Florence Price Violin Concerto No. 1 with the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra.

Recent guest engagements include performances of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 with the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Oak Ridge Symphony, Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Ocala Symphony, and performing as guest concertmaster with the Britt Festival Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a composer, Gabriel has written musical scores for various projects, including the video game Popup Dungeon, an acrobatic aerial show called Aureum, and an upcoming themed resort in Tennessee (Ancient Lore Village).

Lefkowitz holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s in violin performance from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Joel Smirnoff and Masao Kawasaki.

"I feel extraordinarily fortunate and proud to be a member of The Louisville Orchestra,” says Lefkowitz. “Nearly every week of our season is a brand new adventure in which Teddy leads us in pushing the boundaries of our art form, whether it's a world premiere of an exciting new musical collaboration with the likes of Jim James or the St. Stephen's Gospel Choir, or whether it's a train-themed concert performed in our new orchestral-rock venue Old Forester's Paristown Hall. It's hard work but never dull, and I wouldn't want it any other way!"

Lefkowitz is a composer for video games, and his score to the new game Popup Dungeon is now available. The game is coming out on August 12th but the album is out now.

Lefkowitz teamed up with LO violist Evan Vicic to create an album with Medieval ambience, titled Tavern Music Vol. 1, which is available now.