Official Biography

Violinist Frank Almond held the Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 25 years until 2020. He also held the ConcertMaster position with the Rotterdam Philharmonic with Valery Gergiev and Guest Concertmaster of the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Kurt Masur.

Frank has regularly performed as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and as soloist and chamber musician throughout the US and Europe. He is the founder of his own chamber music series in Milwaukee, Frankly Music, consistently recognized for innovative programming and its ability to attract leading performers from around the world. His most recent appearances were with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Music Academy of the West (CA) and the Manchester Music Festival (VT).

At 17, Frank Almond was one of the youngest prizewinners in the history of the Nicolo Paganini Competition in Genoa, Italy, and five years later was one of two American prizewinners at the Eighth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, which was documented in an award-winning PBS film.

His extensive recording discography includes a wide range of repertoire on various labels that have garnered multiple Grammy nominations.

His most recent series of recordings, A Violin’s Life, chronicles the extraordinary history and lineage of his current violin, the 1715 Lipiński Stradivarius. This instrument has direct ties to Giuseppe Tartini, Edvard Grieg, Johannes Brahms, and Robert and Clara Schumann. Volume 3 of A Violin’s Life is scheduled for release in 2023 on the AVIE label, featuring works of Grieg, Tartini, and the newly discovered Piano Trio of Amanda Maier.

On January 27, 2014, the “ex-Lipiński” Stradivarius was stolen from Mr. Almond in an armed robbery after a concert. The violin was recovered nine days later, and the story continues to make headlines around the world. The robbery and recovery are the subject of a documentary film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2019. Frank will has also been featured on a hit edition of” The Moth Radio Hour” from Alice Tully Hall, the critically acclaimed story-telling program heard on Public Radio stations nationwide.

Community outreach and giving back to the Milwaukee community are also at the heart of Frank Almond’s artistic priorities. He mentors young musicians of all performing levels and backgrounds, and performs in nontraditional venues where classical music has a rare and unusual presence.

Frank holds two degrees from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Dorothy Delay, Michael Tseitlin, Felix Galimir, and Joseph Silverstein. He currently serves on the Faculty at Roosevelt University in Chicago and is the Johnston Artist-in-Residence at the Milwaukee Youth Symphony, the largest youth arts program in the United States. Previous teaching positions include positions at Northwestern University and Texas Christian University.

More information about Frankly Music, A Violin’s Life and the Lipiński Stradivarius is available at frankalmond.com.

Photos

Content referencing Frank Almond

Classical: Tamás Varga Guest Stars With Frankly Music
Classical

Tamás Varga Guest Stars With Frankly Music

Renowned principal cellist with Vienna Philharmonic featured in Bach, Reger and Brahms.

Classical: Eugene Drucker Guests With Frankly Music
Classical

Eugene Drucker Guests With Frankly Music

Founding member and violinist with renowned Emerson Quartet for 47 years will perform Faure, Bartok and more.

Classical: Young Brahms, Old Brahms
Classical

Young Brahms, Old Brahms

Frankly Music goes almost all Brahms, featuring 'one of the greatest clarinetists on the planet.'

Classical: It’s a ‘Chemistry Thing’ For Frankly Music
Classical

It’s a ‘Chemistry Thing’ For Frankly Music

Frank Almond and two terrific guest artists perform Beethoven, Dvořák and Foss.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Announces Appointment of New Concertmaster: Jinwoo Lee
Classical: Early Music Now Goes To The Devil
Classical

Early Music Now Goes To The Devil

Baroque music by House of Time balances devilish music with angelic fare.

Classical: Frank Almond & Stas Venglevski Together Again
Classical

Frank Almond & Stas Venglevski Together Again

Performing Argentine tango music with cellist Roza Borisova on March 27.

Classical: Bach Specialist Makes Milwaukee Debut
Classical

Bach Specialist Makes Milwaukee Debut

Simone Dinnerstein will perform works by Bach and Philip Glass with Frankly Music ensemble.

Classical: Frankly Music Features Pianist Joyce Yang
Classical

Frankly Music Features Pianist Joyce Yang

Critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated pianist makes rare appearance doing chamber music.

Classical: The MSO Is Back and Captivates in New Hall
Classical

The MSO Is Back and Captivates in New Hall

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is back with a performance of contemporary and classic pieces.

Festival City Symphony Concert Jan. 20 Featuring Frank Almond
Press Release

Festival City Symphony Concert Jan. 20 Featuring Frank Almond

In Person, Live Stream Tickets Available

Classical: The Return of Frankly Music
Classical

The Return of Frankly Music

Tuesday streaming concert offers great music performed by great musicians.

Classical: So Many Great Musicians
Classical

So Many Great Musicians

Frankly Music features some of the top MSO players performing Mozart, Milhaud, Turina.

Classical: MSO Sparkles In All-Russian Program
Classical

MSO Sparkles In All-Russian Program

And guest pianist Joyce Yang wows audience in Tchaikovsky piano concerto.

Classical: Glories of the Harp
Classical

Glories of the Harp

Frankly Music presents beautiful works featuring MSO harpist Kelsey Molinari.

Marquette University to cohost social justice summit with NŌ STUDIOS
Press Release

Marquette University to cohost social justice summit with NŌ STUDIOS

The summit will feature a variety of activists, artists, authors and academics converging to discuss the lived experience of disenfranchisement and offer solutions to some of the most pressing social justice issues affecting us locally, nationally and internationally.

Classical: The Life of a Violin
Classical

The Life of a Violin

Frankly Music concert features works connected to Frank Almond's famed Stradivarius violin.

Milwaukee Film Festival: ‘Plucked’ Is a Local Crime Thriller
Milwaukee Film Festival

‘Plucked’ Is a Local Crime Thriller

The inside story of how Frank Almond's Stradivarius violin was stolen and recovered.

Classical: Frankly Music Brings on Many Guests
Classical

Frankly Music Brings on Many Guests

Many top Milwaukee Symphony players will perform Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Palestrina.

Frank Almond to Celebrate Final Season with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra after 25 Years as Concertmaster
Press Release

Frank Almond to Celebrate Final Season with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra after 25 Years as Concertmaster

As the Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair of the MSO, Almond holds arguably the most prestigious and visible role within the orchestra.

MKE Film: Announcing the Milwaukee-Made Films
MKE Film

Announcing the Milwaukee-Made Films

'Give Me Liberty' headlines strong list of films slated for Milwaukee Film Festival.

Classical: Milwaukee Symphony Opener Is Uneven
Classical

Milwaukee Symphony Opener Is Uneven

New maestro Masur’s debut starts slowly, but ends in bang-up rendition of Der Rosenkavalier.

Classical: A Triumph for Frankly Music
Classical

A Triumph for Frankly Music

The performance of two great works with guest cellist Lynn Harrell was simply sublime.

Classical: Grammy Winner Comes to Town
Classical

Grammy Winner Comes to Town

Cello superstar Lynn Harrell will perform with Frankly Music.

Classical: Worshipping At the Altar of Mahler
Classical

Worshipping At the Altar of Mahler

De Waart and the MSO take on Mahler’s 9th, leaving some players with tears in their eyes.

Classical: Music That Heals the Soul
Classical

Music That Heals the Soul

Frankly Music presents new works by five women composers, two who won Pulitzers.

Classical: All Hail the Clarinet
Classical

All Hail the Clarinet

Frankly Music offers works by Mahler, Bartok, Schubert with a big role for the clarinet.

Classical: A Lot of Love Music
Classical

A Lot of Love Music

Frankly Music plays works inspired by love by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Janáček.

Classical: German vs. Italian by Frankly Music
Classical

German vs. Italian by Frankly Music

Frank Almond and company tackle Bach and Vivaldi in a musical clash of cultures.

Classical: Six String Players in Musical Conversation
Classical

Six String Players in Musical Conversation

Frankly Music explores two great works -- by Mozart and Brahms.

Classical: A Touch of Glass
Classical

A Touch of Glass

Frankly Music plays all minimalism. By Philip Glass, yes, but Tchaikovsky?

Classical: Frankly Music Goes To The Movies
Classical

Frankly Music Goes To The Movies

Concert features film composers Erich Korngold, Bernard Herrmann, John Williams.

Classical: “Franck In A Nutshell”
Classical

“Franck In A Nutshell”

Frankly Music to perform works by 19th century composer César Franck.

Classical: Almond Joined by Two Terrific Guests
Classical

Almond Joined by Two Terrific Guests

Pianist Adam Neiman, cellist Robert deMaine join Frank Almond.

Festival City Symphony’s May 7 Season Finale Features “Pioneers and Prodigies”
Press Release

Festival City Symphony’s May 7 Season Finale Features “Pioneers and Prodigies”

Monte Perkins Conducts His Final “Symphony Sundays” Concert

Classical: The Miró Quartet’s Ambitious Encore
Classical

The Miró Quartet’s Ambitious Encore

The quartet's 2014 Frankly Music appearance was impressive. Expect nothing less.

House Confidential: A Millionaire’s Neoclassical Mansion
House Confidential

A Millionaire’s Neoclassical Mansion

$1.7 million East Side mansion where Fred Miller grew up is architectural gem.

Classical: Spotlight Shines on Wind Players
Classical

Spotlight Shines on Wind Players

Wind players, rare in chamber concerts, take center stage at Frankly Music.

Classical: Great Violinist, Great Guitarist
Classical

Great Violinist, Great Guitarist

Violinist Frank Almond teams up with guitarist Rene Izquierdo. Sparks should fly.

Classical: A Nod to German Composors
Classical

A Nod to German Composors

Frankly Music opens its season with works by Brahms, Haydn, and Reger.

Classical: The Return of the Tango
Classical

The Return of the Tango

Stas Venglevski performs with Frankly Music. And no, that's not an accordion he plays.

Classical: Four Cool Concerts Coming Sunday
Classical

Four Cool Concerts Coming Sunday

Concerts by Frank Almond, Philomusica Quartet and others, all in one day.

Classical: 7 Great Classical Concerts
Classical

7 Great Classical Concerts

It's a big week for music, with many top musicians and composers coming to town.

Classical: MSO Flutist Steals The Show
Classical

MSO Flutist Steals The Show

Sonora Slocum soars in Nielson concerto, but guest conductor Anu Tali is a letdown.

Classical: A Bloody Good Show
Classical

A Bloody Good Show

Violinist Frank Almond literally bled for his art in powerful concert.

Classical: All About the Russian Soul
Classical

All About the Russian Soul

Frankly Music features two top guest artists doing Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Shostakovich.

Classical: Frank Plays the French
Classical

Frank Plays the French

Frankly Music's Monday concert offers a varied yet all-French, and mostly Romantic program.

Classical: Frankly Music Shines
Classical

Frankly Music Shines

The ensemble's performance of Bach and Brahms set the chapel aglow with energy and virtuosity

Classical: Bach, Brahms — and Almond
Classical

Bach, Brahms — and Almond

Frank Almond's Frankly Music series opens the season with the two Bs, and top-flight guest musicians.

Plenty of Horne: Crowd Celebrates City Birthday Party
Plenty of Horne

Crowd Celebrates City Birthday Party

Politicians, PR people and other notables schmoozed away. The best rumor was that Chief Flynn might be retiring.

Mayor Tom Barrett’s 2014 State of the City Address
Press Release

Mayor Tom Barrett’s 2014 State of the City Address

Milwaukee February 24, 2014 As Prepared for Delivery

Festival City Symphony Offers “Timeless Romance” Symphony Sundays Concert
Press Release

Festival City Symphony Offers “Timeless Romance” Symphony Sundays Concert

Festival City Symphony will continue its “Symphony Sundays” series with a concert titled Timeless Romance on Sunday, March 16, 2014, at 3:00 pm at the Pabst Theater, 144 East Wells Street.

Another Opportunity to Hear the ‘Lipinski’ Sradivarius!
Press Release

Another Opportunity to Hear the ‘Lipinski’ Sradivarius!

Violinist Frank Almond with the beloved ‘Lipinski’ Stradivarius will solo and conduct on the Wisconsin Philharmonic concert, Viva Verdi, Viva Vivaldi on February 23, 2014 at 3:00pm at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.

Plenty of Horne: Will Water Technology Transform the City?
Plenty of Horne

Will Water Technology Transform the City?

Badger Meter CEO says Milwaukee can remake itself as 15th century Florence once did, in speech at downtown GMC event.

Plenty of Horne: Owner of Strad Violin Tips Her Identity
Plenty of Horne

Owner of Strad Violin Tips Her Identity

The violin's owner was at the scene of the crime and signed her first name to a message published by Frank Almond.

Reward to be offered for Stolen Lipinski Stradivarius
Press Release

Reward to be offered for Stolen Lipinski Stradivarius

$100,000 reward offered for information leading to the safe return of the violin

Plenty of Horne: The Mystery of the Stolen Violin
Plenty of Horne

The Mystery of the Stolen Violin

Who owns the Stradivarius stolen Monday night? The story of a violin worth millions.