Background

Curtis Institute of Music

Desirée Ruhstrat made her professional debut at the age of twelve with Lukas Foss and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and at age 16, she was invited by Sir George Solti to perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in Chicago's Orchestra Hall. Ms. Ruhstrat has appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world, including the Berlin Radio Symphony, Radio Suisse Romande, Gottingen Symphony, Philharmonia Da Camera, Orchestra Symphonica Auguescalientes, Colorado Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Concerto Soloists Of Philadelphia, Utah Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Debut Orchestra of Los Angeles, and National Repertory Orchestra. She has worked with such renowned conductors as Eric Kunzel, Max Rudolph, William Smith, Rico Saccani, Brian Priestman, Mats Liljefors among others. Ms. Ruhstrat has won numerous awards including first prize at the National Young Musicians Debut Competition in Los Angeles, where she was also lauded a special award for a young performer with extraordinary talent. She became the youngest prizewinner at Switzerland's Tibor Varga International Competition and also won the award for best interpretation of the commissioned contemporary composition. She went on to earn top prizes at the Carl Flesch, Julius Stulberg, and the Mozart Festival Violin Competitions. Ms. Ruhstrat's distinguished career as a chamber musician includes performances throughout the US, South America, Europe and Asia and multiple recordings on the Cedille label as a member of the 2016 GRAMMY nominated Lincoln Trio.

News

Forst Quartet advances in St. Paul Competition

March 22, 2023

Bienen ensembles perform works by Nemmers Prize winner William Bolcom

April 5, 2022

Springing into Remote Learning

September 1, 2020

Two Bienen ensembles compete in virtual Fischoff

May 12, 2020

Tackling chamber music’s ‘naughty bits’ in the time of COVID-19

April 22, 2020

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Videos

William Bolcom - Violin Concerto in D Major

Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra