Paul Pesthy

Photo: Duncan Smith

Born in Newark, Delaware in the USA, Paul Pesthy’s musical education began with piano lessons at the age of six, and he was introduced to the violin by his Hungarian parents four years later.
He attended the Curtis Institute of Music, where he recieved lessons from Jascha Brodsky, David Cerone, and Yumi Ninomiya, until receiving his Bachelor Degree of Music in 1988. His viola studies in Detmold with Nobuko Imai followed, where he received his diploma in 1992.

From 1991 until 1995, he held the position of Principal Violist in the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra (German Opera on the Rhine). His dedication to chamber music has led to numerous engagements at many festivals, including the Aspen, Marlboro (USA), Musica Reservata (Belgium), and Affinis (Japan) Music Festivals. Solo concerts in Germany have included performances of viola concertos by Bartók, Bruch, Telemann and Britten, as well as Styx for Viola, mixed choir, and orchestra by Giya Kancheli.

He has been Principal Violist of the Symphony Orchestra of the German Southwest Radio since 1995.