Samuel Gardner American violinist and composer of Russian origin. Date of Birth: 25.08.1891 Country: USA

Biography of Samuel Gardner

Samuel Gardner was an American violinist and composer of Russian descent. He was born to Yakov G. and Minni Pollak. Gardner's family immigrated to the United States in 1893. He began studying the violin at the age of seven, and from the age of nine, he took lessons from renowned teachers such as Charles Martin Loeffler, Felix Winternitz, and finally Franz Kneisel at the Institute of Musical Art.

In 1914, Gardner played the second violin in the Kneisel Quartet, filling in for Hans Letz who had been called to military service. From 1915 to 1916, he served as an assistant concertmaster in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In the years 1918 to 1920, Gardner was a violinist in the Elshuco Trio.

Later on, Gardner taught at the Juilliard School (1924-1941), Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin. He also wrote several instructional books. Gardner's musical compositions were primarily for the violin or string ensemble. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his String Quartet in D minor (1918).