Anne Akiko Meyers

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Anne Akiko Meyers
Anne Akiko Meyers in California in November 2017
Anne Akiko Meyers in California in November 2017
Background information
Born (1970-05-15) May 15, 1970 (age 53)
San Diego, California, United States
OriginNew York City
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Violinist
Instrument(s)Violin
Years active1985–present
LabelsApple Music, E1, Sony, RCA Victor Red Seal, Avie
Websiteanneakikomeyers.com

Anne Akiko Meyers (born May 15, 1970, in San Diego[1]) is an American violinist. She has been called “the Wonder Woman of commissioning” by The Strad. [2]

Meyers received a Grammy Award nomination for her live recording with Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Philharmonic of Arturo Márquez’s Fandango,a new concerto for violin and orchestra written for her. [3]

She appeared on NPR's Tiny Desk on September 7, 2023.

Meyers was the top-selling classical instrumentalist of 2014 on Billboard's traditional classical charts.[4][5]

In 2024, Meyers served as the Artistic Director for the Laguna Beach Music Festival, a multi-day series of classical and contemporary concerts, community engagement programs, and dynamic special events.[6]

Early life and education[edit]

The daughter of an artist and a college president, Meyers was born in California. Her mother is of Japanese descent, and her father American. She was raised in Southern California, studied with Shirley Helmick, and then with Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld at the preparatory division of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. In 1980, the Thornton School of Music and its preparatory division ended their relationship, and the preparatory division moved locations and was renamed the Colburn School.

She then studied with Josef Gingold at Indiana University, and with Dorothy DeLay, Felix Galimir, and Masao Kawasaki at the Juilliard School in New York City. She graduated from Juilliard at age 20 and began touring internationally and recording.[7]

Early career[edit]

Described as a child prodigy after her debut with a local community orchestra at the age of 7, she subsequently performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, twice on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at age 11,[8] the Emmy Award Show and the New York Philharmonic at age 12.[7]

When she was 16, Meyers signed with ICM Artists and began touring and recording. She recorded her first album in London at the Abbey Road Studios, featuring the Barber and Bruch Concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. After signing an RCA Victor Red Seal contract at the age of 21, she recorded an extensive discography.[citation needed]

Instruments[edit]

Meyers has lifetime use of the 1741 Vieuxtemps Guarneri "del Gesu".[9] She previously toured with a 1730 Stradivarius violin called the Royal Spanish,[10] and a 1697 Stradivarius called the Molitor Stradivarius.[11] In her recording of Bach's Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043, she plays both parts—one part on the "Royal Spanish" and the other on the "Molitor."[12]

Professional career[edit]

Meyers has performed as guest soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, and Orchestre de Paris.[13] She also has played solo recitals in Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Lincoln Center.[14]

Meyers collaborated with the singer Michael Bolton.[15] She was also the special guest violinist in Il Divo's Christmas Tour 2009[16] and toured with jazz and pop trumpeter Chris Botti in 2010.[17] On September 11, 2015, Naïve Classiques released "Passacaglia" Works for violin and orchestra by Arvo Pärt with MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra (Kristjan Jarvi conducting), in celebration of Pärt's 80th birthday.

The Engagements written by novelist J. Courtney Sullivan is loosely based on Meyers's career; it was one of People Magazine's Top 10 Books of the Year in 2014.[18] Meyers also played the violinist character, Violetta, in Crumpet the Trumpet by children's book author and illustrator, Kristine Papillon.[19] Meyers' recording of Einojuhani Rautavaara's Fantasia was the only classical instrumental work included by NPR in their list of 100 best songs of 2017.[20]

Commissions and premieres[edit]

Works written expressly for Meyers include the Somei Satoh Violin Concerto, recorded live with Tetsuji Honna and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 2002, and Angelfire by Joseph Schwantner, premiered live in 2002 at the Kennedy Center conducted by Marin Alsop and recorded in 2004 with Andrew Litton and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.[21]

Meyers asked the jazz star Wynton Marsalis to write cadenzas for her in Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, which she premiered with the Utah Symphony Orchestra in 2009.[22] Meyers commissioned Mason Bates to write his first violin concerto, and she performed in the world premiere with Leonard Slatkin and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in December 2012.[23] It was later recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin and released on Meyers' 2014 album, The American Masters.[24] She has performed the work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lyon, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

On September 30, 2014, Meyers released The American Masters, which includes two world premieres: Mason Bates's Violin Concerto and the Lullaby for Natalie by John Corigliano, written for the birth of her first-born daughter, Natalie. The album also includes Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto.[25][26]

Meyers appeared in a nationwide PBS broadcast special aired in fall 2015 featuring the world premiere of Samuel Jones' Violin Concerto with the All-Star Orchestra led by Gerard Schwarz.[27] The performance was also part of a Naxos Records DVD.[28]

In September 2015, Meyers released Serenade: The Love Album, her 34th album, featuring Leonard Bernstein's epic Serenade. Meyers commissioned seven arrangers including Adam Schoenberg, Brad Dechter, J.A.C. Redford and Steven Mercurio to arrange ten love-inspired works from classic movies and the American Songbook. The seven arrangers were chosen to resemble the seven philosophers of Plato's Symposium, which Bernstein's Serenade is based on. The album was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra with Keith Lockhart conducting.[29]

Meyers performed the posthumous world premiere of Fantasia by Einojuhani Rautavaara, written for her, with the Kansas City Symphony conducted by Michael Stern in March 2017. Meyers met Rautavaara at his home in December 2015 to play the work for him. He died in July 2016 before its first public performance nearly a year later.[30]

Adam Schoenberg's first violin concerto, Orchard in Fog, written for Meyers, was premiered by her with the San Diego Symphony and conductor Sameer Patel in February 2018.[31] The Violin Channel live-streamed the performance, acquiring the most views of any live video on the website to date.[32]

In May 2020, Meyers released the world premiere recording of Arvo Pärt's Estonian Lullaby for violin and piano, which was dedicated to her. She also released an accompanying animated watercolor video, produced in collaboration with Skazka Studios.[33]

In July 2021, Meyers premiered John Corigliano's new cadenzas to Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 at the Brevard Music Center with conductor Keith Lockhart.[34]

In August 2021, Meyers gave the world premiere of Arturo Marquez's violin concerto, Fandango, at the Hollywood Bowl with Gustavo Dudamel.[35] She went on to perform the work at Carnegie Hall and at the 10,000-seat Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City in October 2022 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel, and to champion the work with many other orchestras across the country.

In November 2022, Meyers premiered Blue Electra by Michael Daugherty – a work written for Meyers and dedicated to Amelia Earhart – with the National Symphony Orchestra led by Gianandrea Noseda at the Kennedy Center, which was broadcast by medici.tv.[36]

On November 18th and 19th, 2023, Meyers premiered Billy Childs' In the Arms of the Beloved along with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Billy Child Jazz-Chamber Ensemble, and the Lyris Quartet.[37]

Billboard charts[edit]

Air – The Bach Album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard charts on its release on February 14, 2012. It featured "Bach Double" played on two different Stradivarius violins.[38][39]

Meyers' performance of The Vivaldi Four Seasons Album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard charts when released on February 14, 2014.[40]

Grammy Award[edit]

Meyers received a Grammy Award nomination for her live recording with Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Philharmonic of Arturo Márquez’s Fandango, a concerto for violin and orchestra written for her.[41]

Discography[edit]

The following releases feature Meyers on violin.[42][43]

Year Album Label
2023 Fandango with Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel Platoon
2022/2023 Mysterium with Los Angeles Master Chorale and Grant Gershon[44][45] Avie Records
2022 Shining Night with Jason Vieaux and Fabio Bidini[46] Avie Records
2020 Estonian Lullaby with Reiko Uchida[47] Avie Records
2018 Mirror in Mirror with Philharmonia Orchestra, Kristjan Järvi, and Akira Eguchi[48] Avie Records
2018 Special release of Bernstein's Serenade (A live performance with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ilan Volkov)[49] BBC Music Magazine
2017 Fantasia: The Fantasy Album with Kristjan Järvi and the Philharmonia Orchestra[50] Avie Records
2016 Fantasia by Einojuhani Rautavaara (single) with Kristjan Järvi and the Philharmonia Orchestra[51][52] eOne
2016 Anne Akiko Meyers: The Complete RCA Recordings[53] RCA Red Seal
2015 Serenade: The Love Album with the London Symphony Orchestra & Keith Lockhart eOne
2015 The Kristjan Järvi Sound Project – Arvo Pärt: Passacaglia with MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra & Kristjan Jarvi Naïve Records
2015 All-Star Orchestra: Program 12: Mozart and a World Premiere with Gerard Schwarz Naxos Records
2014 The Four Seasons: The Vivaldi Album eOne
2014 The American Masters: Barber, Corigliano, Bates with the London Symphony Orchestra & Leonard Slatkin eOne
2012 Air – The Bach Album with the English Chamber Orchestra eOne
2011 Pride from Gems with Michael Bolton Mointaigne / Legacy / Sony
2010 Seasons...Dreams with pianist Reiko Uchida and harpist Emmanuel Ceysson eOne
2009 Smile with Akira Eguchi Koch International Classics
2006 Bruch Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Live from Japan
2006 Jennifer Higdon Piano Trio. Live from the Vilar Center, Vail Naxos
2005 Angelfire by Joseph Schwantner, 'Fantasy' for amplified violin and orchestra with Andrew Litton and Dallas Symphony Orchestra Hyperion
2003 East Meets West (Japanese/French album) with Li Jian Avie Records
2002 Kisetsu: Works By Somei Satoh 3 (Violin Concerto written for Meyers). Live with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Camerata Tokyo
2001 Romantic Violin RCA Red Seal
2000 Violin for Relaxation Sony Classical
1999 UltraSound Music for the Unborn Child Sony Classical
1997 Franz Schubert in Performance from NPR National Public Radio
1996 Classical Ecstasy RCA Red Seal
1995 Sergei Prokofiev Violin Concertos with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra & Dmitri Kitayenko RCA Red Seal
1995 The American Album RCA Red Seal
1994 Salut d'Amour RCA Red Seal
1993 Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and other works with the Philharmonia Orchestra & Andrew Litton RCA Red Seal
1992 Franck and Strauss Sonatas for Violin and Piano with Rohan de Silva RCA Red Seal
1991 Lalo: Symphonie espagnole; Bruch: Scottish Fantasy with the RPO & Jesus Lopez-Cobos RCA Red Seal
1989 Saint-Saëns, Fauré: Violin Sonatas Canyon Classics
1988 Barber/Bruch Violin Concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Christopher Seaman Royal Philharmonic Orchestra


Music videos[edit]

  • Vivaldi Triple Concerto – Anne Akiko Meyers Performs all 3 Parts[54]
  • Summer from Vivaldi's Four Seasons[55]
  • Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons[56]
  • On the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at age 11[57]
  • Fandango, Anne Akiko Meyers, Gustavo Dudamel, LA Phil - Fandango by Arturo Márquez on Platoon.

Awards and honors[edit]

In 1993 at the age of 23, Meyers received the Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is awarded by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts to up to five promising young artists each year.[58][59]

In 2006, she served as a panelist, recitalist, and teacher at the Juilliard School's Starling-DeLay Symposium. In May 2008, UCLA invited her to be the Regent's Lecturer in violin.[60]

In late 2009, Meyers joined the Butler School of Music at University of Texas at Austin as Distinguished Artist and Professor of Violin.[61]

In September 2015, she was honored with a Luminary Award by the Pasadena Symphony for her long-standing support of that orchestra.[62]

In December 2022, Meyers was named a new trustee of The Juilliard School alongside singer songwriter Jon Batiste.[63]

In 2023, Meyers received an honorary doctorate from the Colburn School.[64]

Personal life[edit]

Meyers lives with her husband and two daughters in Los Angeles, California.[65]

References[edit]

  1. ^ McManus, Molly (May 2015). "Anne Akiko Meyers" (PDF). Austin Woman. pp. 65, 70. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers: What's next?". www.thestrad.com.
  3. ^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Billboard Top Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers is Billboard's 2014 Top-Selling Classical Instrumentalist". WMOT Roots Radio. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL / Philharmonic Society of Orange County". www.philharmonicsociety.org. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b McManus, Molly (May 2015). "Anne Akiko Meyers". Austin Woman Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers – Tonight Show with Johnny Carson". YouTube.
  9. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers Receives Lifetime Use of "Vieuxtemps" Guarneri del Gesu". Violinist.com. January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "Violin by Antonio Stradivari, 1730 (Royal Spanish)". Cozio.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  11. ^ Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644–1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, New York, 1972.
  12. ^ "The Bach Hour | WCRB". Wgbh.org. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  13. ^ "Richmond Symphony and Anne Akiko Meyers Perform Mason Bates' Violin Concerto This Weekend". Broadway World. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  14. ^ "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers: From Playing In Knee Socks To Owning Two Strads". NPR. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  15. ^ Kaczmarczyk, Jeffrey (May 9, 2011). "Michael Bolton's a hoot as Captain Jack Sparrow on 'SNL,' but collaborators aren't surprised at all". MLive. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "Il Divo announces Christmas concerts". UPI. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  17. ^ "Violinist, Anne Akiko Meyers Tours with Jazz Trumpeter, Chris Botti". University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  18. ^ "The Engagements By J. Courtney Sullivan". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  19. ^ "Crumpet The Trumpet – Book with CD Recording – by Kristine Papillon – featuring Anne Akiko Meyers". Sharmusic.com. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  20. ^ "The 100 Best Songs Of 2017". Npr.org. December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  21. ^ "Angelfire & other works". Hyperion Records.
  22. ^ Edward Reichel (August 4, 2009). "Symphony guest conductor directs impressive concert". Deseret News. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  23. ^ "Haydn & Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony – Pittsburgh | Official Ticket Source | Heinz Hall | December 7, 2012 – December 9, 2012 | Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra". Trustarts.culturaldistrict.org. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  24. ^ Amacher, Julie (January 7, 2015). "New Classical Tracks: Anne Akiko Meyers, 'The American Masters'". Classical MPR. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  25. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers will release The American Masters on September 30th". EOne Music. Entertainment One Ltd. August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  26. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers is Billboard's 2014 Top-Selling Classical Instrumentalist". WMOT Public Radio. January 8, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  27. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers World Premiere Samuel Jones Violin Concerto All-Star Orchestra". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  28. ^ "All-Star Orchestra: Program 11: A Hero's Life in Music / Program 12: Mozart and a World Premiere". Naxos. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  29. ^ Amacher, Julie (October 7, 2015). "New Classical Tracks: Anne Akiko Meyers, 'Serenade: The Love Album'". Classical MPR. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  30. ^ "Einojuhani Rautavaara's FANTASIA Receive's Posthumous Premiere". Broadway World. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  31. ^ Overton, Marcus (February 11, 2018). "Review | Meyers triumphs in Schoenberg concerto, but San Diego Symphony orchestra fizzles in Sibelius' Fifth". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "VC LIVE | Adam Schoenberg's Violin Concerto World Premiere – Anne Akiko Meyers [LIVE]". The Violin Channel. February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  33. ^ Pentreath, Rosie. "This beautiful video brings together Arvo Pärt's music and exquisite animated art". Classic FM. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  34. ^ "John Corigliano's New Cadenzas to the Beethoven Violin Concerto Complete the Masterpiece". Strings Magazine. June 18, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  35. ^ Gee, Kristopher. "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers premieres 'Fandango' at Hollywood Bowl". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  36. ^ May, Thomas (November 4, 2022). "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Continues Passionate Advocacy of New Music with Recent Concerto Commission Inspired by Amelia Earhart". Strings Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  37. ^ "Review - 'LUX': LA Master Chorale with Billy Childs and Anne Akiko Meyers". Violinist.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  38. ^ Johnson, Lawrence A. "New York Classical Review". Theclassicalreview.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  39. ^ "Austin Arts: Seeing Things". Austin360.com. February 22, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  40. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers's Four Seasons: The Vivaldi Album Debuts at #1". ArtsNewsDesk.com. New York. 2014. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  41. ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Winners & Nominees List (Updating Live) | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  42. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers Discography". All Music. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  43. ^ "All Albums by Anne Akiko Meyers". Amazon. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  44. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers: Mysterium". WFMT. November 7, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  45. ^ "Mysterium". Avie Records. September 6, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  46. ^ Cahill, Greg (June 22, 2022). "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Looks to the Stars on New Album 'Shining Night'". Strings Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  47. ^ "Estonian Lullaby". Avie Records. April 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  48. ^ "Catalogue: Mirror in Mirror". Avie Records. July 3, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  49. ^ "January 2018". Classical Music. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  50. ^ Niles, Laurie. "Anne Akiko Meyers brings Einojuhani Rautavaara's 'Fantasia' to life". Violinist.com. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  51. ^ "Fantasia Exclusive New Release by Anne Akiko Meyers". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  52. ^ "Rautavaara: Fantasia – EP". iTunes. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  53. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers: The Complete RCA Recordings". ArkivMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  54. ^ "Vivaldi Triple Concerto – Anne Akiko Meyers Performs all 3 Parts-World Premiere". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  55. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers Summer from Vivaldi's Four Seasons". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  56. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  57. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at age 11". YouTube. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  58. ^ "Avery Fisher Career Grants". Lincoln Center. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  59. ^ Avery Fisher Career Grants Recipients Archived May 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  60. ^ "Anne Akiko Meyers–2008 Regents Lecturer in the UCLA Department of Music | music @ UCLA". Music.ucla.edu. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  61. ^ Claire, Jeanne (June 25, 2009). "Staff blogs on Statesman.com and Austin360.com". Statesman.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  62. ^ "Moonlight Sonata 2015". Pasadena Symphony and Pops. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  63. ^ "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Named Trustee of New York's Juilliard School". The Violin Channel. December 9, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  64. ^ "The Colburn School Announces 2023 Conservatory Keynote Speaker and Honorary Doctorate Recipient Anne Akiko Meyers". Colburn. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  65. ^ DeCwikiel-Kane, Dawn (July 19, 2017). "Anne Akiko Meyers to premiere Samuel Jones Violin Concerto at EMF". Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved January 15, 2018.

External links[edit]

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