violinist – violist
Biography
Frits de Jonge, University of South Carolina (Columbia) Emeritus Professor, taught violin, viola, and chamber music at this institution from 1968 until
2006.
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From performing nationally and internationally as violinist and violist, to leading orchestras, to teaching young string players, to coaching ensembles, and to conducting the University of South Carolina Orchestra, Frits de Jonge has done it all, and in the process he has made a lasting impact on South Carolina’s music community. As a teacher at the University of South Caroli-
na, de Jonge has inspired large numbers of student musicians, many of whom have become teachers at High Schools, Universities, and performers
in Orchestras. Some became winners or finalists in regional, national, and international contests.
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Frits de Jonge, a native of The Netherlands, studied at the Utrecht Conser- vatory (The Netherlands), the Royal Academy of Brussels (Belgium), and at
the University of Iowa in the United States. His primary teachers include
Riele Queling, Herman Salomon, Maurice Raskin, and Charles Treger.
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After placing 2nd in the 1960 Rio de Janeiro National Violin Competition, sponsored by the Symphony Orchestra of Brazil, de Jonge performed as soloist with the Sinfonica Brasileira. The following year he performed as
soloist with the same orchestra under the renowned Brazilian conductor,
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Eleazar de Carvalho, in Rio de Janeiro’s Teatro Municipal. Under the auspices of the Dutch Cultural Affairs, de Jonge was in- vited to perform compositions by Dutch contemporary composers in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, and Recife. He has since won critical acclaim for his countless recitals and solo performances with orchestras in the US, Europe,South America
and Asia. During his musical journey in the United States, de Jonge also has held Concertmaster positions with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra (16 years), the South Carolina Chamber Orchestra, the Columbia Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Duluth (MIN) Symphony Orchestra, and the Savannah (GA) Symphony Orchestra.
Although Frits and his wife Kathy reside in Columbia, South Carolina, they enjoy spen- ding extended periods of time in various Caribbean countries. Kathy, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina is an accom- plished violinist and she has been a mem-ber of the South Carolina Philharmonic Or-chestra for the past thirty-six years.
