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Kevin Lefohn, violin
HHailed as a "barnstorming violin exponent" (Flying Inkpot, Singapore), violinist Kevin A. Lefohnmaintains an international career as recital soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue.His frequent chamber music collaborations and numerous recital performances have earned considerable international acclaim, with performances, workshops, and masterclasses presented throughout Australia, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and South East Asia. He is a National Recording Artist for Radio New Zealand Concert and has frequently performed on Thursdays at Three, All Classical Portland’s live performance radio show.
"There is a youthful freshness and vibrancy in Lefohn's playing, well complemented by fine technique. He is not afraid to take risks with his interpretations." — The Star, New Zealand
"Lefohn's abilities as a barnstorming violin exponent were never in doubt, not even with Heifetz' show-offy figurations which he negotiated with intensity and spirit." — Flying Inkpot, Singapore
“The soloist delivered a flawless performance full of beauty, wit, style and emotion which from start to finish had the audience in the edge of their seats.” — 4barsrest.com
He studied with the Dorothy DeLay, Piotr Milewski, and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, Kathryn Lucktenberg at the University of Oregon, and with members of both the Emerson and the Tokyo String Quartets.
Much sought after as a teacher and adjudicator, he is dedicated to the training of talented young string players. His students include prizewinners of international competitions, soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestra musicians in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and the United States.He has served as a jury member of numerous international competitions including the International Violin Competition Sion Valais,at the invitation of Maestro Shlomo Mintz, and the selection panel of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
He has held faculty teaching positions at the University of Otago (New Zealand), the University of Oregon (USA), and the University of Portland (USA). He was the founding director of the renowned Marama Strings Project at the University of Otagowhere he was Professor of Violin from 1998-2007 and founder and Artistic Director of the Queenstown Violin Summer School and Festival of Chamber Music (New Zealand). As an executive arts administrator, he has served as Manager of Artistic Planning for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and as Executive Director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic.
He performs with theBodhi Trio and currently holdsa faculty teaching position at Pacific University.He maintains a private studio, an international studio via online lessons, supporting students throughout the United States, South America, Europe,the Middle East, and Asia, and frequently travels overseas for performances, masterclasses and teaching residencies.
He is the founder and director of virtuosity.online, an international online learning platform created as a response to grow connections between professional musicians, university faculty, studio teachers, and students throughout the world.