Biography

Philip Palermo was appointed associate concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in January 1985 and currently serves as associate concertmaster emeritus.  A native of Barrington, Illinois, Philip made his concerto debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15. He has also appeared as soloist with the Baltimore, Houston, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Juilliard symphonies, the Aspen Chamber Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Internationally, he has presented recitals in Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Holland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as the United States.

As a chamber musician, Philip performs regularly at the Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival in Harrison, Maine. His series and festival credits also include the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Mostly Mozart Festival, the Linton Chamber Music Series, the Utah Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Ravinia Festival.  In Indiana, Philip can be heard frequently as a guest artist with the Ronen Chamber Ensemble and the Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society.  Philip is a former member of the Canale Quartet and the Spring Mill Quartet, an Indianapolis-based quartet that has performed in major cities throughout Europe.

Philip is featured as soloist on the Indianapolis Symphony's CD Yuletide Celebration, conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly. He is also featured on a seven-CD series recorded live at the Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival.

Philip received his first violin lessons at the age of eight from his father, George, a former member of the Indianapolis and Chicago symphonies. He began studies with Morris Gomberg at the Chicago Musical College at the age of 12 and at 15 won the Chicago Symphony Youth Award. Philip has also studied with Franco Gulli at Indiana University and with Dorothy DeLay at both The Juilliard School and the Aspen Music School. His additional awards include the Rudolph Ganz Memorial Award (Chicago Musical College), the Merek Weber Award (Indiana University), the Fritz Kreisler Memorial Award (Juilliard), and first prize at the 1975 Kosciuszko Foundation Wieniawski Violin Competition in New York City.

Philip plays a 1705 Giovanni Grancino violin as well as contemporary instruments made by Tetsuo Matsuda, Jennifer Becker, and Oscar Hemmig. He has a passion for violin bows and plays examples by F. Tourte, N. Maline, J. A. Vigneron, F. N. Voirin, James Tubbs, and E. Sartory.
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