Dr. Donald Ambroson coached our groups and provided our masterclasses from 2009-2019. A violinist and violist, he has had an extensive career as a performer, giving recitals throughout Southern California, the Midwest, and in Norway, where he performed at the home of the eminent 19th century Norwegian violinist, Ole Bull. He has performed in many symphony orchestras, including the Pacific Symphony, for many years and has been active as a freelance musician in Southern California.
Dr. Ambroson received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in violin performance at USC, where he studied violin with Eudice Shapiro and conducting with Daniel Lewis. At the Claremont Graduate School, he earned the Master of Arts degree in performance, studying violin with Israel Baker. His undergraduate studies were with Leo Kucinski and Lauren Jakey at Morningside College.
He has been Artist in Residence at California State University, Fullerton, and has taught at other colleges and universities in the Midwest and California. For many years he was a professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. In addition to his work as a violinist, he has undertaken self-directed studies in ethnomusicology, focusing on musics of Norway, India, and Norwegian-Americans. He studied the hardingfele (a folk fiddle from Norway) and Karnatic (south Indian) classical music.
Chamber Music Institute/So Cal 