Acclaimed violinist James Greening-Valenzuela has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He made his solo debut as a teenager at France’s Bach Festival de Font’Neuve, later winning First Prize in the Shreveport Symphony National Young Artist Competition and giving celebrated debut recitals at Boston’s Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall.
He has been featured on seven solo recordings on Musical America, Locrian Recordings, and Con Brio Recordings; his 2002 album of the Bach Sonatas for Solo Violin was submitted for Grammy Award consideration. A recipient of the Elebash Fellowship Award, his doctoral research focused on the life and career of composer Ruggero Leoncavallo.
Dr. Greening-Valenzuela has appeared at major festivals and venues, including the International Festival de Música in Costa Rica, Grand Teton Music Festival, Menton Music Festival (France), the Tibor Varga Festival (Switzerland), Rodolfo Lipizer Festival (Italy), New York’s 92nd Street Y, and universities including Yale, UCLA, Boston University, NYU, and Hofstra. He was the Founder and Artistic Director of the California Music Festival (2000–2008).
He studied at the San Francisco and St. Louis Conservatories and the Graduate Center of CUNY, working with Henryk Szeryng, Joseph Silverstein, Zaven Melikian, Daniel Phillips, Masao Kawasaki, and others. Honored by theviolinsite.com as one of today’s most influential violin soloists, he has taught at Queens College, Brooklyn College, and Boise State University.
Dr. Greening-Valenzuela maintains a thriving violin and viola studio in Walnut Creek, California. His students have gone on to top conservatories, festivals, and professional careers as soloists, chamber musicians, orchestral players, and teachers. He is also Founder and President of Vocal Artists Management, representing internationally acclaimed opera and concert singers.