From 1974 to 1978, Joshua Epstein taught as a professor of violin at the University of Music in Würzburg. During this time, he was often a guest of the Hummel family and played first violin at house music evenings. At Epstein's suggestion, Bertold Hummel composed the Suite for solo violin op. 78 in 1982.

Biography

Joshua Epstein was born in Tel Aviv, where he also received his first musical training. He then studied in Brussels with Arthur Grumiaux at the "Conservatoire Royal de Musique". After gaining one of the coveted places in the "Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth", he continued his studies with André Gertler, who had a decisive influence on him. His extraordinary talent was soon confirmed by numerous international prizes, for example at the "Reine Elisabeth" Competition in Brussels, the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki, the Paganini Competition in Genoa and awards such as the Carl Flesch Medal in London.

Joshua Epstein regularly appears as a soloist with orchestras in Germany and abroad. Numerous concert recordings and radio recordings document his violinistic skills. His extensive discography includes solo sonatas by Bach and Bartók, the "24 Capricci per violino solo" by Paganini, the "Poème mystique" and the "Baal Shem Suite" by Bloch as well as string quartets by Mendelssohn and Schubert. The latter were honoured with the "Deutscher Schallplattenpreis" and the "Grand prix du disque". In 1966, he followed his teacher André Gertler to Hanover, where he was his assistant until 1973. From 1974 to 1978, Joshua Epstein taught a violin class at the Würzburg University of Music. From 1978, he was professor of violin at the Saar University of Music.