Michael Klotz

Violist

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Michael Klotz has established an international reputation as a performer and pedagogue on the viola. Klotz has performed as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician throughout the world on important concert series and major festivals in the US, Canada, England, Spain Belgium, Israel, Mexico, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Michael Klotz joined the internationally acclaimed Amernet String Quartet, Ensemble-in-Residence at Florida International University in Miami, in 2002 and has performed and recorded with the ensemble worldwide. Klotz regularly collaborates with some of the leading artists of our time, having performed with  Shmuel Ashkenasi, Arnold Steinhardt, Andres Cardenes, James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Vadim Gluzman, Joseph Kalichstein, Roberto Diaz, Cynthia Phelps, Michael Tree, Gary Hoffman, Carter Brey, Clive Greensmith, and the Borromeo, Ying, and Shanghai Quartets as well as principal string and wind players of some of the world’s leading orchestras. Klotz is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and in 2002 completed a double masters degree in violin and viola at The Juilliard School. His principal teachers and influences include Zvi Zeitlin, Toby Appel, Peter Kamnitzer of the LaSalle Quartet, and Shmuel Ashkenasi. As a dedicated pedagogue, Klotz serves as a member of the artist faculty of the Heifetz Institute and as a coach at New World Symphony. Michael Klotz holds the position of Senior Instructor of Viola and Chamber Music at Florida International university and also teaches a class of award-winning highly gifted pre-college violists. He is also a founding member of the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival.