Peter Slowik

Biography

Profiled by Strad magazine as “a man of limitless energy and purpose – he mentors high achievers who make their mark in top positions the world over,” Peter Slowik is one of the world’s most acclaimed artist-teachers of viola. His students occupy leadership positions in major American orchestras, conservatories, and universities. Slowik’s principles of “Conductivity in String Playing” have put him at the forefront of string music education in this country and abroad.

Slowik has been featured at international Festivals on five continents, including eight International Viola Congresses, Suzuki Association of the Americas, and both American and Australian String Teachers’ Associations. He has taught masterclasses in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Europe, New Zealand, and most of the significant United States conservatories.

Mr. Slowik is Professor of Viola at Oberlin Conservatory and Founder and Artistic Director for Credo Music. Past teaching posts include Northwestern University, Indiana University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. He has been named to the highest teaching awards at both Oberlin and Northwestern. Mr. Slowik was the recipient of the Maurice Riley Viola Award from the American Viola Society for “outstanding teaching, scholarship, and performance.”

Slowik’s performing career includes recordings on the Deutsche Grammophon, deutsche harmonia mundi/BMG, American Grammophone, Erato and Cedille labels. He has performed with William Preucil, Anner Bylsma, Leonard Rose, the Mirecourt Trio, the Jasper, Arianna, Saint Petersburg and Vermeer Quartets, the Smithsonian Chamber Players, and members of the Cleveland, Chester, Orford, and Smithson quartets. Past orchestral associations include service as Principal Violist of the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, Concertante di Chicago, and the American Sinfonietta. Between 1986 and 1999 Slowik performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and was solo violist at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Ever seeking to discover deeper meanings of the word “success” Mr. Slowik is grateful for the balance provided by his wife of nearly 50 years, Vicky, for his 4 sons and 9 grandchildren, and having been placed in situations where music has had a healing presence. He has experienced the joy of playing Strads, and performing in the world’s leading concert halls. But his passion for conductive musical expression is also fed by sharing music in prisons, hospice centers, homeless shelters, and in the homes of hurricane victims.

SPECIALTIES:

Audition prep
Basic and advanced technique
College graduate school auditions and pre-screening

LANGUAGES:

English