Eric Gratz, Violinist

Since his concerto debuts at the age of 14 in the United States, Spain, and Portugal, violinist Eric Gratz has enjoyed a multifaceted career as soloist, concertmaster, chamber musician, curator, and educator. He is Artistic Director of the American Chamber Music Society in Chicago and frequently performs on the series. Gratz previously served for nine seasons as concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony, where he took part in numerous world premieres and regularly conducted the orchestra. As both soloist and concertmaster, he has appeared with more than two  dozen orchestras, including those of Cleveland, Louisiana, Phoenix, San Antonio, Tucson, Santa  Fe Opera, and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. 

Gratz made his Kennedy Center recital debut at age 17, and has since appeared regularly on  major series, including Austin Chamber Music, Mainly Mozart Festival, Maui Classical Music  Festival, Cactus Pear Festival, Castleton Festival, Frankly Music, Chatter PDX, Memphis  Chamber Music Society, and Maverick Chamber Music Festival. In May of 2026 he gave a  recital tour of Taiwan, culminating in a performance at the National Concert Hall in Taipei.  

Gratz has given masterclasses at various institutions in the U.S., as well as in Ecuador, Italy, and  China. He teaches privately in Chicago, is on faculty at Music Institute of Chicago, North  Central College, and is on the summer faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp as a Valade Concertmaster. A familiar face on digital platforms, he has recorded several Tonebase Violin courses on music by Beethoven, Kreisler, and Ysaÿe.