The New York Philharmonic

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Biography
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Violinist Sheryl Staples joined the New York Philharmonic as Principal Associate Concertmaster, The Elizabeth G. Beinecke Chair, in September 1998. She made her solo debut with the Philharmonic in 1999 performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, led by Kurt Masur. She has since been featured in numerous performances, playing concertos by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Haydn, Bach, and Vivaldi with conductors including Philharmonic Music Directors Jaap van Zweden, Alan Gilbert, and Lorin Maazel, as well as with Sir Colin Davis, Jeffrey Kahane, and Kent Nagano. In addition, she has performed as soloist with more than 45 orchestras nationwide, including The Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego and Richmond Symphony Orchestras, and Louisiana Philharmonic.

 

The New York Times wrote that “she is a perceptive musician, who plays with great rhythmic integrity and a lucid sense of phrase structure. ... she draws a wonderful array of vibrant and luminous colors ... interpretive honesty and unmannered elegance.” The Los Angeles Times said she has a “tantalizing mix of qualities. ... refinement and boldness, polish and fire. ... big, rich, sweeping tone, lacking nothing in warmth and evenness.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer praised her “aristocratic artistry coupled with violinistic mastery ... pinpoint accuracy and daring that took the breath away.”

 

Staples frequently performs chamber music in the New York area, including at David Geffen Hall, Merkin Hall, 92nd Street Y, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has also appeared throughout the United States, Europe, and Central and South America, including in events hosted by US Ambassadors in London, Paris, Berlin, Beijing, and Hong Kong. She was a founding member of the New York Philharmonic String Quartet, with which she toured the US and South Korea. Her summer appearances have included La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest, Boston Chamber Music Society, Salt Bay Chamberfest, and the Santa Fe, Mainly Mozart, Seattle, Aspen, Sarasota, Martha’s Vineyard, Strings Music, and Brightstar Music chamber music festivals. She appears on three Stereophile recordings with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.

 

Sheryl Staples is a native of Los Angeles, where she developed her love for ensemble work at an early age. She began studying the violin at age five, and her major mentors were Robert Lipsett and Heiichiro Ohyama. Before finishing studies at the USC Thornton School of Music, Staples was appointed concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and other professional ensembles in Los Angeles. She then became concertmaster of the Pacific Symphony in 1994 while enjoying a varied career consisting of solo appearances, chamber music, teaching (at the USC Thornton School of Music and the Colburn School of Performing Arts), and Hollywood studio recording work for major motion pictures.

 

At the age of 26 Staples joined The Cleveland Orchestra as associate concertmaster, a position she held for three years. In addition, she taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Encore School for Strings, and Kent/Blossom Music Festival, and she was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio.

 

Currently Staples is on the violin faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard Pre-College, and serves on faculty of The Juilliard School in orchestral studies.

 

Staples and her husband, percussionist Barry Centanni, often perform together. Their collaborations include two works written for them: William Kraft’s Concerto a Tre for piano, violin, and percussion, premiered at Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society’s summer festival (available on Albany Records), and David Sampson’s Black River Concerto for solo violin, percussion, and orchestra, premiered with the Montclair State University Symphony.

 

Staples performs on the “Kartman” Guarneri del Gesù violin, ca. 1728, previously on loan from private collector Peter Mandell and now in the collection of the New York Philharmonic.

 

“I began playing the violin at age five. I was enchanted by a tiny violin my father pulled down from a closet, which had belonged to my aunt as a young girl.”

Q&A with Sheryl Staples

The Facts: Born in Los Angeles, California. Primary teachers: Robert Lipsett and Heiichiro Ohyama. Artist Diploma from the University of Southern California. Prior to the Philharmonic: associate concertmaster, The Cleveland Orchestra; concertmaster, Pacific Symphony. Teaches at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music. At the Philharmonic: Joined in 1998. Solo debut in 1999 in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto led by Kurt Masur.

Earliest musical memory: Listening to my father practice trombone and watch­ing him every week on The Lawrence Welk Show. I began playing the violin at age five. I was enchanted by a tiny violin my father pulled down from a closet, which had belonged to my aunt as a young girl. My father’s work ethic made a big impression on me — the discipline and consistency he demonstrated in his practicing set an amazing example.

Are there other musicians in your family? My husband, Barry Centanni, is a freelance percussionist and teaches at Montclair State University. Though my two children studied violin when they were younger, Michael (18) has been appointed to West Point Military Academy and Laura (16) plans to become a veterinarian.

What are some of your favorite memo­ries from recording soundtracks back in Hollywood earlier in your career? Without question the highlight was work­ing with John Williams on several mov­ies, including Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and Nixon. I was struck by his musicianship, patience, and intuition about people, always inspiring the best from the musicians and creating something magical.

Describe your role as Principal Associ­ate Concertmaster: In the concertmaster seat, one has to make decisions about bowings, phrasing, and articulation, and inspire cohesiveness while setting a clear example of the character of the music at every moment. I support Frank [Huang] in this role and sometimes do it myself.

How has playing in the New York Phil­harmonic String Quartet shaped your music-making? We have gotten to know each other better, both as people and as musicians. In the Orchestra, this depth of familiarity and understanding strengthens our communication, which can sometimes be challenging from a distance onstage.

What advice do you give young mu­sicians considering an orchestral career? Go to lots of concerts and listen to great recordings with special attention to quality of sound, nuance, articulation, character, and phrasing. Practice your in­strument passionately as a soloist. Then take every ensemble opportunity seri­ously, realizing that each part is import­ant in its own way and you must know your role in the group at every moment.

As of April 2019

Upcoming 2023-2024 Performances
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Location: (Directions)
Price Range:
Duration:
Sun
10
Dec
2023
NY Phil Ensembles at Merkin
3:00 PM Concert

NY Phil Ensembles at Merkin

Program and artists
Program To Include
  • Vanhal / Arr. C. White, Trio, La Chasse
  • Dohnányi, Piano Quintet No. 1
  • Brahms, Clarinet Quintet
Artists
  • Sheryl Staples, Violin
  • Su Hyun Park, Violin
  • Alina Kobialka, Violin
  • Kyung Ji Min, Violin
  • Cong Wu, Viola
  • Vivek Kamath, Viola
  • Sumire Kudo, Cello
  • Nathan Vickery, Cello
  • ...,
Sun
21
Apr
2024
NY Phil Ensembles at Merkin
3:00 PM Concert

NY Phil Ensembles at Merkin

Program and artists
Program To Include
  • Prokofiev, Quintet
  • Beethoven, Serenade in D major, Op. 25
  • Fe. Mendelssohn, Octet for Strings
Artists
  • Sheryl Staples, Violin
  • Quan Ge, Violin
  • Yulia Ziskel, Violin
  • I-Jung Huang, Violin
  • Audrey Wright, Violin
  • Jin Suk Yu, Violin
  • Rebecca Young, Viola
  • Leah Ferguson, Viola
  • ...,
Thu
30
May
2024
Donor Rehearsal: Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil
9:45 AM Concert

Donor Rehearsal: Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil

Program and artists
Program To Include
  • Mozart, Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola
  • Shostakovich, Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings
  • Brahms, Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Frank Huang, Violin
  • Sheryl Staples, Violin
  • Cynthia Phelps, Viola
  • Carter Brey, Cello
  • Christopher Martin, Trumpet
  • Igor Levit, Piano
Thu
30
May
2024
Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil
7:30 PM Concert CYO

Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil

Program and artists
Program To Include
  • Mozart, Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola
  • Shostakovich, Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings
  • Brahms, Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Frank Huang, Violin
  • Sheryl Staples, Violin
  • Cynthia Phelps, Viola
  • Carter Brey, Cello
  • Christopher Martin, Trumpet
  • Igor Levit, Piano
Fri
31
May
2024
Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil
11:00 AM Concert CYO

Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil

Program and artists
Program To Include
  • Mozart, Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola
  • Shostakovich, Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings
  • Brahms, Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Frank Huang, Violin
  • Sheryl Staples, Violin
  • Cynthia Phelps, Viola
  • Carter Brey, Cello
  • Christopher Martin, Trumpet
  • Igor Levit, Piano
Sat
1
Jun
2024
Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil
8:00 PM Concert CYO

Igor Levit and Stars of the NY Phil

Program and artists
Program To Include
  • Mozart, Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola
  • Shostakovich, Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings
  • Brahms, Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Frank Huang, Violin
  • Sheryl Staples, Violin
  • Cynthia Phelps, Viola
  • Carter Brey, Cello
  • Christopher Martin, Trumpet
  • Igor Levit, Piano
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