Berl Senofsky

Berl Senofsky was born in Philadelphia on April 19, 1926, the son of Russian immigrant violinists. Senofsky's father began teaching Berl his first lessons when the boy turned three. By the time he was six he began scholarship studies with Louis Persinger, a former pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe, and at the age of twelve Senofsky received a scholarship to the Juilliard School to study with Ivan Galamian. He remained with Galamian for twelve years.
Following military service in World War II, Senofsky made his New York recital debut as the winner of the 1946 Walter Naumburg Prize. Shortly thereafter, he appeared as a soloist with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, and was engaged as assistant concertmaster with the Cleveland from 1951 to 1955. At this juncture Senofsky planned to relocate to Europe for several years, and left America. Traveling to Belgium with no expectations (he did not even bring a suit with him!), he entered the Queen Elisabeth, and the surprise win changed his life forever.
In later years Senofsky found satisfaction in other musical activities. He established a chamber music series in Baltimore and began a foundation to support American artists who were entering international music competitions. He was appointed to a teaching position at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in 1965, where he taught violin and chamber music until 1996. For a number of summers he also taught at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.