Judith Ingolfsson

About Judith

Violinist Judith Ingolfsson is celebrated worldwide for her commanding artistry, musical depth, and charismatic performances. She enjoys a distinguished career as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, captivating audiences across four continents. The New York Times praised her playing for combining “fireworks and a singing tone,” while Strings Magazine described her tone as “gorgeous, intense, and flawlessly pure.” In August 2024, Ms. Ingolfsson was honored with the title Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France’s Minister of Culture, recognizing her exceptional contributions to French cultural heritage.

A gold medalist of the 1998 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Ms. Ingolfsson rose to prominence not only with this prestigious win but also through her outstanding performances at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genoa and the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York, garnering widespread acclaim for her artistry. In 1999, she was named NPR’s Performance Today “Debut Artist of the Year” for her “remarkable intelligence, musicality, and insight.”

Ms. Ingolfsson has performed as a soloist with leading orchestras, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, the National, St. Louis, and Indianapolis symphony orchestras, the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz, the Budapest Philharmonic, and the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Tokyo. She joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra for a celebrated North American tour, with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. She has also graced major recital stages worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Konzerthaus Berlin, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Center. As a chamber musician, she has collaborated with the Avalon, Miami, and Vogler quartets and performed with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two.

A prolific recording artist with 14 albums, Ms. Ingolfsson’s discography reflects her versatility and dedication to a broad repertoire. Highlights include En Hommage: Simon Laks (EDA), her acclaimed recordings of the Ysaÿe solo sonatas (GENUIN), and The Happiest Years, featuring sonatas by Artur Schnabel and Eduard Erdmann (GENUIN). As half of Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel with pianist Vladimir Stoupel, she has released critically acclaimed albums, such as Concert-Centenaire (Accentus Music), a three-CD set of French works from the Belle Époque to World War I, and Blues, Blanc, Rouge (Accentus), featuring sonatas by Ravel, Poulenc, and Ferroud. Her most recent releases include Rebecca Clarke: Viola and Violin Sonatas (2024 | OehmsClassics) and La Belle Époque: Works by Eugène Ysaÿe, Théodore Dubois, and César Franck (GENUIN).

Born in Reykjavík, Iceland, Ms. Ingolfsson began violin studies at the age of three and performed publicly by five. After moving to the U.S., she was admitted at 14 to the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Jascha Brodsky. She earned her master’s degree and artist diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music under David Cerone and Donald Weilerstein.

Currently, Ms. Ingolfsson is Professor of Violin at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. She is co-artistic director, alongside Vladimir Stoupel, of France’s Festival and Academy Aigues-Vives en Musiques and the Berlin-based Festival The Last Rose of Summer. Ms. Ingolfsson performs on a 1750 Lorenzo Guadagnini violin and a viola by Yair Hod Fainas. Webpage: www.judithingolfsson.com