Robert Waters

Biography

A violinist with “pristine musicianship married to dazzling energy “ (San Francisco Classical Voice), Robert Waters is a Professor of Professional Practice at Utah State University, and is the first violinist of the internationally renowned Fry Street Quartet. The FSQ holds the Manon and Dan Russell Endowed String Quartet Residency at the Caine College of the Arts at USU.

Hailed as "a triumph of ensemble playing" (New York Times), Fry Street Quartet has perfected a "blend of technical precision and scorching spontaneity" (Strad). Through groundbreaking projects such as their interdisciplinary Crossroads Project and the widely-performed chamber opera As One, in addition to recordings and concerts all across the country and beyond, the Fry Street Quartet has established itself as one of the finest and most innovative chamber ensembles in the industry.

As a founding member of the Jupiter Trio, Prof. Waters was awarded First Prize in the 2002 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in Osaka, Japan. Chosen from 54 ensembles representing 19 countries, the Jupiter Trio was the first American ensemble in the history of the competition to win the gold medal, and was invited to return to Japan for an 11-city tour. He was invited twice to serve as Artist/Faculty at the Stellenbosch International Music Festival in South Africa. He has also previously served as Concertmaster of Music of the Baroque in Chicago, where he was a frequent soloist, and as Associate Concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.

A committed and enthusiastic educator, Prof. Waters embraces the opportunity to pass on all he has learned from his own teachers and experiences to a new generation of musicians. In addition to full-time faculty positions at Utah State University and DePaul University (Chicago), he has been invited over a span of twenty years to teach privately, coach chamber music, and lead masterclasses at a wide range of music festivals, summer camps and workshops throughout the United States and beyond. Through the FSQ’s residency at USU, Prof. Waters’ career is split between a busy performance schedule and an energetic, committed approach to teaching.

Mr. Waters performs on a violin by J.B. Guadagnini, made in 1763 in Parma, Italy, on generous loan by an anonymous benefactor.