Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Vernon (born May 5, 1949 in Toronto, Canada) is a classical violist and teacher.
Robert Vernon has served as the Principal Violist of the Cleveland Orchestra since 1976. Vernon occupies the endowed Chaillé H. and Richard B. Tullis Chair, and along with Franklin Cohen has served longer in a Principal position than any other current member of the Orchestra. Vernon also heads the Viola Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is a faculty member at the renowned Juilliard School of Music. Vernon also serves on the Faculty at Kent/Blossom, the National Orchestral Institute in Maryland, the New World Symphony Orchestra, and the Encore School for Strings. He also frequents several chamber music festivals including the Sarasota Music Festival (Sarasota, Florida), and the Nevada Chamber Music Festival (Reno, Nevada).
Life
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Robert Vernon moved to the United States as a child and grew up in the Detroit, Michigan area. Vernon attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City and graduated with honors. Vernon played in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra before being named Principal Violist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Vernon currently resides in Solon, Ohio.
Discography
- Orchestral Excerpts for Viola
- Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik; Flute & Harp Concerto; Sinfonia concertante w/ Robert Vernon & Daniel Majeski
- Paul Schoenfield: Concerto for Viola & Orchestra w/ Robert Vernon; Four Motets; The Merchant and the Pauper (Excerpts from Act 2)
- Bartok/Martinu/Janáček: Orchestral Works w/ Robert Vernon et al.
- Berlioz's Harold in Italy w/Lorin Maazel & Robert Vernon
- Strauss's Don Quixote w/ Lynn Harrell, Robert Vernon & Vladimir Ashkenazy