Amihai Grosz is an Israeli violist and teacher
born (in Jerusalem) in 1979. He is well-known
as the Principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Nevertheless, he is also in great demand as a
soloist. He began, as most violists do,
as a violin student at age 5. He began
to play and study the viola at age 11. Most
of his studies took place in Israel and in Germany. In 1995, he founded the Jerusalem Quartet
with three other student-colleagues from the Jerusalem Music Center. He was 16 years old. The quartet (which comprised the majority of
his professional activity between 1995 and 2009) subsequently won several
distinguished awards and prizes from various organizations. As a viola soloist, Grosz has also won top
prizes in several competitions. In 2010,
Grosz was appointed Principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Although orchestral players are for the most
part anonymous to the general public, principal players enjoy slightly higher
profiles. Grosz continues to perform as
a soloist and as a member of various chamber groups involved with music
festivals all over the world. His
instrument is one by Gaspar Da Salo, constructed in 1570.
