Philip Lewis is the Founder and Artistic Director of Chamber Music International. He has been described as a violinist of “Rare excellence-combining sensitivity, virtuosity, warmth and vitality”, Baltimore Sun. Mr. Lewis has concertized as soloist and recitalist throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia. He studied with Ivan Galamian in New York, and then Berl Senofsky at the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he earned his Master’s Degree. Mr. Lewis has won several competitions including the Young Musicians’ Foundation Competition in Los Angeles, and has been the recipient of a Rockefeller Grant. While Concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic, Mr. Lewis made many solo recordings for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Mr. Lewis is the former violinist of both the Smetana and Koryo Piano Trios. He has also made many appearances with the Theatre Chamber Players of Kennedy Center. He has been a soloist under such conductors as Maurice Abravanel, Lukas Foss, Anshel Brusilow, Leon Fleisher, and Maurice Handford. Mr. Lewis concertizes in many music festivals including the New American Music Festival of New York, the Aspen Music Festival, the Sitka Chamber Music Festival, Juneau Classics & Jazz, the Reizeno Muziek Gezelsehap, the Grand Canyon Music Festival, the Park City, (Utah) Chamber Music Festival, plus festivals in Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Mr. Lewis has been Concertmaster of the Richardson Symphony Orchestra since 1980 and has often appeared as a featured soloist. A much sought-after artist throughout North America, Mr. Lewis makes his home in Dallas and is Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at the University of North Texas in Denton. Philip Lewis plays a Sanctus Seraphin violin made in 1733, Venice, Italy.