Martin Riseley (born 10 February 1969 in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon Rive ...

, New Zealand) is a violinist and Head of Strings (violin) at the New Zealand School of Music. Formerly, he was

concertmaster The concertmaster (from the German ''Konzertmeister''), first chair (U.S.) or leader (U.K.) is the principal first violin player in an orchestra (or clarinet in a concert band). After the conductor, the concertmaster is the second-most signif ...

of the

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to co ...

. Riseley began violin studies at age 6, and gave his first solo concert at age 10. He studied with Carl Pini,

Dorothy DeLay Dorothy DeLay (March 31, 1917 – March 24, 2002) was an American violin instructor, primarily at the Juilliard School, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of Cincinnati. Life Dorothy DeLay was born on March 31, 1917, in Medicine Lo ...

, and Felix Galimir. He graduated from the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most ...

in 1996 with a Doctorate of Musical Arts. In August 1994, Riseley was appointed concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until August 2010. He has performed the North American premieres of the

violin concerto A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin (occasionally, two or more violins) and instrumental ensemble (customarily orchestra). Such works have been written since the Baroque music, Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first dev ...

''The Bulls of Bashan'' by

Gavin Bryars Richard Gavin Bryars (; born 16 January 1943) is an English composer and double bassist. He has worked in jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, historicism, avant-garde, and experimental music. Early life and career Born on 16 January 1943 in ...

, and the ''Violin Concerto'' (2002) by Allan Gilliland. He performed regularly as soloist with the ESO, in a variety of major concerti. In 2010 he returned to New Zealand, taking a teaching position at the New Zealand School of Music, the same year he was also appointed Concertmaster of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He served as Interim Associate Concertmaster of the

National Arts Centre Orchestra The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC Orchestra) is a Canadian orchestra based in Ottawa, Ontario led by music director Alexander Shelley. The NAC Orchestra's primary concert venue is Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre. Since its incept ...

(2002–2003), and was guest concertmaster of the

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Wellington, New Zealand. The national orchestra of New Zealand, the NZSO is an autonomous Crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, per the New Zealand Sympho ...

in 2003. He has two daughters, Emma (2000), and Izzie (2004). They both played violin for many years.

References

External links

Martin Riseley's biography on the New Zealand School of Music's website
Canadian classical violinists Male classical violinists 1969 births Living people Concertmasters 21st-century classical violinists 21st-century Canadian male musicians 20th-century Canadian violinists and fiddlers 21st-century Canadian violinists and fiddlers Canadian male violinists and fiddlers {{violinist-stub