About Emma…

Violinist Emma Frucht is celebrated for her fearless leadership, warmly expressive playing, and collaborative spirit that inspires both her fellow musicians and audiences alike. A passionate and dedicated orchestral leader, Emma frequently serves as concertmaster and principal second violin of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in New York City, and is a member of the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble. She performs regularly in leadership positions with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and New York Classical Players, and is a recurrent guest with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra, A Far Cry, the American Ballet Theater Orchestra, and the American Symphony Orchestra. 

Emma relishes any chance to collaborate with living composers, finding great joy in the process of bringing their works to life. She has participated in numerous premieres, most recently including a string quartet by Jennifer Higdon commissioned for the Buffalo Chamber Music Society’s 100th Anniversary, and leading the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for the Carnegie Hall premiere of a new piece by Billy Childs. She will perform as a soloist for the world premiere of George Meyer’s Concerto for Two Violins and Viola with the New York Classical Players in May 2025. 

A native New Yorker, Emma completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where she majored in Art History and, upon graduation, received the Robert Levin prize for excellence in musical performance. Shortly after earning her Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, Emma joined the Grammy-nominated Aizuri Quartet. A member of the Quartet from 2019-2025, notable highlights from her time in the group include the quartet’s major concerto debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in performances of John Adams’s Absolute Jest, their debuts at the 92Y, Carnegie Hall, and Boston’s Celebrity Series, and Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award. 

Driven by her strong affinity for teaching, Emma has maintained a private studio since 2013. In Fall 2022, she joined the faculty of Adelphi University as an Adjunct Professor of Violin. Since 2018, she has also been a substitute teacher for Naoko Tanaka at the Juilliard Pre-College Program, embracing any opportunity to work with young students. Her primary teachers have included Louise Behrend, Lynn Chang, Daniel Phillips, and Naoko Tanaka.

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