“To dear Chunyee

         with my deepest gratitude”
              —Olga Kaler

Professor of Violin at Cleveland Institute of Music

 

 

Biography of Ilya Kaler

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Joining the CIM faculty in 2018-2019, Ilya Kaler is considered to be one of the most outstanding personalities of the violin today. He is the only violinist to win the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1986), the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki (1985), and the Paganini Competition in Genoa (1981). He has been described as a "magician, bewitching our ears" by Gramophone for his hauntingly beautiful sound, flawless command of the instrument and mesmerizing phrasing. Not only does his career range from that of a soloist, a recording artist to chamber musician, he is one of the most sought-after teachers in the world. 

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Kaler has made many recordings. The recordings released in the last ten years include works by Eugène Ysaÿe, Bach, Brahms, 

Schumann, Shostakovich, Glazunov, Szymanowski, Dvorak, Paganini, Tchaikovsky and Messiaen. His solo CD Ilya Kaler, violin was nominated for the NAIRD Indie Award in 1995 in the solo classical category.[

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Biography of Olga Kaler

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Olga Dubossarskaya Kaler has been praised by music critics for her "deep, soulful sound" and "powerful, enchanting renditions." Kaler has toured three continents as a soloist, chamber musician and artist-teacher, balancing performing and teaching careers with equal success. She has received numerous awards as a performer, including the Special Prize at the Rodolfo Lipizer International Competition and first prizes at the Northwestern and Thaviu-Isaak competitions.

Kaler is highly sought out as an artist-teacher and guest clinician. Her students regularly win competitions throughout the United States and abroad.