Martin Chalifour

Martin Chalifour is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California specializing in violin performance within the Strings program, concurrently serving as principal concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1995. His distinguished orchestral career includes associate concertmaster positions with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Shaw and the Cleveland Orchestra under Christoph von Dohnányi.

Chalifour earned honors at the Montréal Conservatory by age 18 before advancing studies at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. His educational journey established foundations for his dual career in performance and pedagogy.

Artistically, Chalifour excels in violin performance, chamber music collaboration, and orchestral repertoire interpretation. With over 50 concertos performed globally, he partners with leading conductors including Pierre Boulez and Esa-Pekka Salonen. His chamber music focus manifests through ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic Piano Trio, which premiered Beethoven's Triple Concerto at the Hollywood Bowl in 2005, alongside festival appearances at Sarasota and Mainly Mozart.

Notable honors include:

• Certificate of Honor at Moscow's International Tchaikovsky Competition (1986)
• Laureate at the Montréal International Musical Competition (1987)

Chalifour received early-career grants from Canadian institutions and maintains a teaching philosophy emphasizing individualized technique development, communication skills, and expressive musicality. Though not accepting new USC students for fall 2023, he continues instructing in Québec while performing internationally with orchestras including the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec.

His active chamber collaborations span the Los Angeles Philharmonic Piano Trio and guest appearances at Canada's Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, reflecting sustained engagement in both educational and performance spheres.