Paul Cortese - viola
Paul Cortese, an active protagonist of his instrument, graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with the famed violist Joseph dePasquale. Previously, under the tutelage of Stanley Nosal, Guillermo Perich, John Garvey, and Burton Fine, he pursued his studies at the University of Illinois and the New England Conservatory in Boston.
While completing his studies, Cortese performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony, and was offered the Principal Viola position in the Teatro alla Scala. He made his debut with the orchestra in Alice Tully Hall in New York in 1991.
Cortese has performed extensively in the US, Canada, and the European Union, collaborating with numerous chamber music groups such as the Kandinsky Trio, the Trio Arbós, and various string quartets, participating in international music festivals and has recently been performing with the Jacques Thibaud String Trio.
Paul currently lives in Barcelona, Spain, where he is professor of viola and chamber music at the conservatory of the Liceo , along with a regular masterclass in the Arcos Academy in Madrid. He has been collaborating with the Baltic Youth Philharmonic, Kristjan Järvi, music director, and has taught masterclasses in Spain, Italy, France, Vietnam, the US, Poland, Latvia, Germany, and Estonia. He currently plays a viola constructed for him by the fine Spanish maker Agustín Clemente of Madrid in the year 2006, along with an Iginio Sderci viola of Florence, 1972.
While completing his studies, Cortese performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony, and was offered the Principal Viola position in the Teatro alla Scala. He made his debut with the orchestra in Alice Tully Hall in New York in 1991.
Cortese has performed extensively in the US, Canada, and the European Union, collaborating with numerous chamber music groups such as the Kandinsky Trio, the Trio Arbós, and various string quartets, participating in international music festivals and has recently been performing with the Jacques Thibaud String Trio.
Paul currently lives in Barcelona, Spain, where he is professor of viola and chamber music at the conservatory of the Liceo , along with a regular masterclass in the Arcos Academy in Madrid. He has been collaborating with the Baltic Youth Philharmonic, Kristjan Järvi, music director, and has taught masterclasses in Spain, Italy, France, Vietnam, the US, Poland, Latvia, Germany, and Estonia. He currently plays a viola constructed for him by the fine Spanish maker Agustín Clemente of Madrid in the year 2006, along with an Iginio Sderci viola of Florence, 1972.
