kevin a lefohn
"There is a youthful freshness and vibrancy in Lefohn's playing, well complemented by fine technique. He is not afraid to take risks with his interpretations."
– The Star, New Zealand
Hailed as a "barnstorming violin exponent" (Flying Inkpot, Singapore), violinist Kevin A. Lefohn maintains an international career as recital soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. His frequent chamber music collaborations and numerous recital performances have earned considerable international acclaim, with performances, workshops, and masterclasses presented throughout Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and South East Asia. He is a National Recording Artist for Radio New Zealand Concert and has frequently performed on Thursdays at Three, All Classical Portland’s live performance radio show.
He studied with Dorothy DeLay, Piotr Milewski, and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, Kathryn Lucktenberg at the University of Oregon, and with members of both the Emerson and Tokyo String Quartets.
"Lefohn's abilities as a barnstorming violin exponent were never in doubt, not even with Heifetz' show-offy figurations which he negotiated with intensity and spirit."
– Flying Inkpot, Singapore
“The soloist delivered a flawless performance full of beauty, wit, style and emotion which from start to finish had the audience in the edge of their seats.”
– 4barsrest.com
Much sought after as a teacher and adjudicator, Kevin is dedicated to the training of talented young string players. His students include prizewinners of international competitions, soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestra musicians throughout Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and the United States. He has served as a jury member of numerous international competitions including the International Violin Competition Sion Valais, at the invitation of Maestro Shlomo Mintz, and the selection panel of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
He has held faculty teaching positions at the University of Otago (New Zealand), the University of Oregon (USA), and the University of Portland (USA). He was the founding director of the renowned Marama Strings Project at the University of Otago where he was Professor of Violin from 1998-2007 and founder and Artistic Director of the Queenstown Violin Summer School and Festival of Chamber Music (New Zealand).
He currently holds a faculty teaching position at Pacific University, is Artist in Residence at the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy, and maintains in person and online private studios.
As an executive arts leader with over 15 years experience, Kevin has founded and directed internationally recognized educational and performance-based programs, holding both Artistic and Executive leadership positions. Most recently he served as Manager of Artistic Planning for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and as Executive Director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Kevin shares his strategic and insightful depth of senior leadership experience through coaching, workshops, lectures, and other consulting projects.