JERRY EPSTEIN, a native Angeleno, joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as a violist is 1968 while in his junior year at the University of Southern California.  He studied with William Primrose, Milton Thomas, Abe Skernick, Peter Schidloff, Lillian Fuchs, Gabor Rejto, Lawrence Lesser, and Sanford Schonbach.  He received his Bachelor of Music (magna cum laude) as well as his Masters of Music from USC.

Jerry comes from a family devoted to music.  His Uncle Max was a child violin prodigy who was brought to the U.S. from Russia by Los Angeles Philharmonic founder William Andrews Clark. Jerry's mother, among her list of musical accomplishments, played in the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 16 years.  His father was a French hornist.  His son Blake is a drummer and his daughter is a pianist with aspirations to play percussion.

Jerry was the principal violist in the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas and Lawrence Foster, as well as the YMF Trio.   He was also principal violist in the Westside Symphony and USC Symphony; a member of the Glendale Symphony, Pasadena Symphony and UCLA Faculty Chamber Orchestra.   Jerry was co-founder of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet.  He was also one of the founding members of the Midnight Strings, who opened many a concert for Donovan.   Jerry appeared as a soloist with the USC Symphony, Claremont Music Festival, and with Pierre Boulez at the Ojai Festival.  He is a former faculty member of the University of California, Irvine, and  Cal State Los Angeles.

Mr. Epstein is a three-time winner of the Coleman Artists' Award and is also a past winner of the Vera Barstow and Nadia Dekibort Awards.

One of Jerry's passions is composing and playing with his wife, vocalist Rebeca Dru.   He can be heard on her award-winning lullaby CDs "Night Songs" (the English version), and "Canti Notturni" (the Italian version) at www.rebecca-dru.com.  He is currently working on an instrumental CD with Rebecca as well as developing a prototype music program with her for one of Los Angeles' public elementary schools.

Visit his website at jerryepstein.net.