Biography
Violinist Philip Ficsor is an active recitalist, chamber musician and teacher currently based in Santa Barbara, California, where he is an Assisitant Professor of Violin at Westmont College. He received his BM and an MM from The University of Michigan (studies with Stephen Shipps), MM from Yale University School of Music (studies with Erick Friedman) and DMA from Boston University (studies with Lynn Chang).
Performer
An enthusiastic advocate for contemporary American composers, Philip Ficsor recently released his third recording, “Summer Day”, featuring the complete works for violin and piano of Emma Lou Diemer, with the composer at the keyboard. His recording of William Bolcom’s complete works for violin and piano with American Double was “strongly recommended” by Fanfare Magazine and The Strad called his playing of Bolcom’s Suite for Solo Violin “beautifully managed and well-prepared”. An avid chamber musician, his participation in a performance of Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time was praised by critic C.J. Gianakaris (Kalamazoo Gazette) as "splendid...Ficsor marvelously rendered the ultimate design of Messiaen's work…he effectively created the sense of aurally lifting toward the heavens, step by step”." He is active in the musical life of Santa Barbara and regularly performs at the Santa Barbara Music Club.
Educational Outreach
A strong believer in the value of educational outreach, Philip Ficsor presented to 1,500 school-age children from the stage of Boston Symphony Hall in a co-presentation with William Bolcom on the eve of the premiere of Bolcom’s Eighth Symphony by James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Ficsor has also presented to music classes at the Monroe School (Revere, MA), the Greenwood Music Camp (Easthampton, MA), the Boston Latin school as well as at the College Music Society National Conference (2006). He has taught at New England Conservatory’s Preparatory Division, as well as the All Newton Music School. Since 2006, he has been Assistant Professor of Violin (tenure-track) at Westmont College, where he is the director of the strings program.
Bolcom Specialist
Philip Ficsor has had a long association with the works for violin and piano of William Bolcom. As a member of the piano-violin ensemble American Double, he released Bolcom’s complete works for violin and piano on Albany Records, including the Suite for Solo Violin, which was a world premiere recording, revised especially for the album. Throughout the process of learning the works, American Double worked closely with Bolcom. He has called the recording “great benchmarks for other performers”. Ficsor’s book on the violin works, “William Bolcom’s Works for Violin and Piano: A Performer’s Perspective” is published by VDM Verlag. Ficsor is an editorial advisor for publication through E. B. Marks/Hal Leonard Corporation for some of Bolcom’s works for violin and piano. His performance guides on Bolcom’s works for violin and piano (forthcoming) are meant to enhance a prospective performer’s preparation on each individual work and includes a misprint list as well as helpful suggestions to aid the learning process.
Faith and Learning
As a violinist who is also a Christian, Ficsor seeks to help students explore the ways in which their faith can influence their thinking on various musical issues and conversely, how their academic study effects their understanding of the Christian faith. Students are faced with a myriad of questions that both challenge and enhance beliefs they hold. It is thus critical that they are provided with guidance regarding questions related to the integration of their faith with learning and living. As a teacher at Westmont, a college in the Christian Liberal Arts tradition, Ficsor strives to integrate faith into the learning environment and where appropriate to incorporate it. One way this is accomplished is through devotionals as well as deliberately and conscientiously considering how to integrate faith and teaching in ways that enhance rather than diminish the quality of both.
