Brian Isaacs

Biography:

American violist Brian Isaacs is passionate about developing meaningful musical experiences for both performers and audience members alike. In pursuit of this, Brian is based in Berlin as a member of both the class of Tabea Zimmermann (Frankfurt HfMDK) and the Karajan-Akademie der Berliner Philharmoniker. He graduated from Yale University with his MM in Viola Performance, studying with Ettore Causa, and his BA in Sociology.  

Brian is a prizewinner of the Anton Rubinstein International Viola Competition and has been a semi-finalist at the Primrose, Prague Spring, and Kodaly International Competitions. At Yale, he won both the School of Music and College concerto competitions, and has received several awards from the university. Brian has worked with violists in solo masterclasses including Misha Amory, Yuri Bashmet, Noemie Bialobroda, Nobuko Imai, Lawrence Power, Antoine Tamestit, Steven Tenenbom, Lars Anders Tomter, and Tabea Zimmermann.  

An avid chamber musician, Brian has participated in numerous festivals and concerts in the USA, Europe, and Asia. He has collaborated and performed with artists such as Peter Bruns, Ettore Causa, Jose Gallardo, Annette von Hehn, Ida Kavafian, Hye-Jin Kim, Mihae Lee, Mi-kyung Lee, Tony Nys, and Marcy Rosen. While at Yale, Brian received chamber music coachings from members of the Brentano Quartet. Recent festival appearances include Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival String Academy, NUME Academy and Festival, Taos School of Music, Thy Chamber Music Festival, Verbier Festival Academy, and Viridian Strings.  

Brian plays on an American viola made by Douglas Cox in 2011, on generous loan from the Virtu Foundation. He is generously supported by a 2023-24 grant from the Frank Huntington Beebe Fund.