James Ehnes has established himself as one of the foremost violinists of his generation. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favorite guest of many of the world’s most respected conductors. Ehnes’s long list of orchestras includes, amongst others, the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New York, London Symphony, Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, DSO Berlin and the NHK Symphony orchestras.

Recent orchestral highlights include the MET Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, London Symphony, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Vienna Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Chicago Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Boston Symphony Orchestras, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Oslo Philharmonic. In 2017, Ehnes premiered the Aaron Jay Kernis Violin Concerto with the Toronto, Seattle and Dallas Symphony Orchestras; future performances of the piece include with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Alongside his concerto work, James Ehnes maintains a busy recital schedule. He performs regularly at Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center Chicago, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Ravinia, Montreux, Chaise-Dieu, the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg, Festival de Pâques in Aix, and the Salzburg Festival.

In 2016, Ehnes undertook a cross-Canada recital tour, performing in each of the country’s provinces and territories, to celebrate his 40th birthday. In 2010, he formally established the Ehnes Quartet, with whom he has performed in Europe at venues including Wigmore Hall, Auditorium du Louvre in Paris and Théâtre du Jeu de Paume in Aix, amongst others. Ehnes has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings including a Gramophone Award, a GRAMMY Award and JUNO awards.

Ehnes began violin studies at the age of four, became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin at age nine, made his orchestral debut with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal at age 13 and graduated from The Juilliard School in 1997, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and in 2010 was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. James Ehnes plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715. (jamesehnes.com)