Violinist Frank Almond

Frank Almond held the Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. He held similar positions with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic.

Frank regularly performs as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and as soloist and chamber musician throughout the U-S and Europe. He is the founder of Frankly Music, a chamber music series consistently recognized for innovative programming and ability to attract leading performers from around the world.

His most recent series of recordings, A Violin’s Life, chronicles the history and lineage of his current violin, the 1715 “Lipiński” Stradivarius. The instrument has direct ties to Giuseppe Tartini, Edvard Grieg, Johannes Brahms, and Robert and Clara Schumann.

In 2014, the “Lipiński” Stradivarius was stolen from Mr. Almond in an armed robbery after a concert. The robbery and recovery are the subject of a documentary film, Plucked, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2019, and on The Moth Radio Hour.

Community outreach is also at the heart of Frank Almond’s artistic priorities.  He mentors young musicians of all performing levels and backgrounds, and performs in nontraditional venues where classical music is a rare and unusual presence.

Frank Almond writes an online column, as he admits, “instead of practicing.” Nondivisi offers his thoughts and expectations for the present and future of classical music.

More information about Frankly Music, A Violin’s Life and the Lipiński Stradivarius is available at frankalmond.com.

Frank Almond: Affiliate Artist Profile Video

Frank Almond talks about his career and his instrument, the famed Lipiński Stradivari. Video by Mike Grittani for Guarneri Hall.

Frank Almond: Instrument

The Stradivari violin played on by Frank Almond is known as the “Lipiński,” after the violinist Karol Lipiński (1790-1861), who performed on it during the 19th century, just one chapter in a fabled provenance. Read more