Noah Bendix-Balgley
Noah Bendix-Balgley, First Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, also regularly appears as a soloist with leading international orchestras and in recital at the world’s finest halls. Recent and upcoming highlights include his Berlin Philharmonic concerto debut, his work with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, Israel Camerata, Shanghai and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestras, the Brevard Music Festival and extensive recital tours throughout Asia and Europe.
Born in North Carolina, Noah began playing the violin at age 4 and at age 9 he played for Lord Yehudi Menuhin. He graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the Munich Hochschule. Now a gifted educator himself, Noah teaches at the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic and gives masterclasses around the world.
Noah is also a renowned performer of traditional klezmer music, a musical style which has been part of his life since an early age. Recently, Noah composed and premiered his own klezmer violin orchestra, Fidl-Fantazye, with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Manfred Honeck. A passionate chamber musician, Noah performs in several fixed ensembles including the multi-genre septet Philharmonix featuring members of both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras.
Noah performs on a Cremonese violin made in 1732 by Carlo Bergonzi.
“It is an honor for me to join the Jury of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. I have always been inspired by the humanity of Yehudi Menuhin's music and by how he used music to build bridges across cultures during his life. I was very lucky to meet and play for Menuhin when I was 9 years old, a memory I will cherish forever. At the Menuhin Competition, I look forward to meeting the next generation of violinists, whose brilliance and artistic spirit will carry on Menuhin's wonderful legacy.”