Judith Ingolfsson

~ STRINGS MAGAZINE

“She is a truly outstanding player. Her effortless virtuosity is a tool in the service of the music; her tone is ravishingly beautiful, pure and adaptable, her sense of style is unerring, her expressiveness simple, direct, and strongly felt.

Violinist Judith Ingolfsson is internationally recognized for her intense, commanding performances, uncompromising musical maturity, and charismatic performance style. She appears regularly as a concerto soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist, and she performs with pianist Vladimir Stoupel as part of the acclaimed Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel. The New York Times has characterized Ingolfsson’s playing as producing “both fireworks and a singing tone,” while Strings Magazine praised her tone as “gorgeous, intense, and variable, flawlessly pure and beautiful in every register.”

Judith Ingolfsson made her first appearances on the international music scene as a prizewinner of the celebrated International Violin Competition Premio Paganini in Genoa and the Concert Artist Guild Competition in New York City. Winning the Gold Medal of the 1998 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis provided her with the final breakthrough as an internationally sought-after artist. In 1999, National Public Radio’s Performance Today named her “Debut Artist of the Year” for her “remarkable intelligence, musicality, and sense of insight.”

Judith Ingolfsson has performed on concert stages across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, appearing with ensembles such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Tokyo. She toured North America with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 2000, with highlights at Carnegie Hall and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

A dedicated chamber musician, Ingolfsson has collaborated with the Avalon, Miami, and Vogler string quartets and performed as a member of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two. As part of Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel, she has been praised for her innovative programming and insightful interpretations, particularly of French music and lesser-known 20th-century works. Together, the Duo has released numerous acclaimed recordings, including Concert-Centenaire, a three-album exploration of French music from the Belle Époque through World War I, and Blues, Blanc, Rouge, featuring works by Ravel, Ferroud, and Poulenc.

Ingolfsson’s artistic versatility extends to the viola, which she performs regularly in chamber music and recital programs. Her repertoire highlights her commitment to the unaccompanied violin and viola literature, French music, and works by underrepresented composers. Notable solo recordings include the Ysaÿe Solo Sonatas and The Happiest Years, a pairing of solo sonatas by Artur Schnabel and Eduard Erdmann.

A devoted educator, Ingolfsson is Professor of Violin at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. She has held previous teaching appointments at leading institutions in Germany and the United States and regularly conducts masterclasses worldwide. Her students have won prestigious competitions, secured positions with elite orchestras, and been accepted into top-tier music programs.

Born in Reykjavík, Iceland, Ingolfsson began her violin studies at the age of three and made her public debut at five. She was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at 14 and later earned her Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She performs on a Lorenzo Guadagnini violin, crafted in 1750, and a viola by Yair Hod Fainas.

JUDITH INGOLFSSON

~ The Baltimore Sun

“The performance was spectacular. She made this concerto absolutely and unmistakably her own and approached it all with a panache of a true virtuoso. Nothing was held back. She was out to galvanize the orchestra and her listeners with the energy and power of Khachaturian’s music.”

About me

I believe music has the power to connect us, transform lives, and offer perspectives beyond our own. As a violinist and educator, my work is driven by a commitment to creating meaningful and inclusive musical experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and dialogue.

My career has taken me across the world as a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist, but my passion lies equally in the collaborative and the exploratory. Whether performing a beloved masterpiece, championing works by underrepresented composers, or teaching the next generation of musicians, I strive to celebrate the richness and diversity of the classical repertoire.

As an artist, I am especially drawn to unaccompanied violin repertoire and the intimate duo partnership I share with pianist Vladimir Stoupel. These settings allow for a direct, visceral connection with audiences and an opportunity to explore music in its most distilled form. I am equally at home performing on the viola, which adds another dimension to my work in chamber music and recitals.

Education is at the heart of what I do. I am fortunate to teach at the Peabody Institute, where I encourage students to embrace their individuality while cultivating technical and artistic excellence. I also work to create opportunities for young musicians from underrepresented backgrounds, fostering a more equitable and vibrant future for classical music.

In my recordings and performances, I aim to tell stories that resonate beyond the concert hall—whether exploring French music of the early 20th century, delving into contemporary compositions, or shedding light on overlooked voices in music history. My hope is to create spaces where audiences and musicians alike feel enriched and empowered by the breadth of what classical music can offer.

At its core, my work is about connection—between performer and listener, teacher and student, past and present. Through music, I seek to spark curiosity, amplify unheard voices, and celebrate the shared humanity that binds us all.

BIOGRAFIE AUF DEUTSCH

BIOGRAPHIE FRANÇAISE