Sanford Allen

Sanford Allen (born 1939) is an American classical violinist.[1] At the age of 10, he began studying violin at the Juilliard School of Music and continued at the Mannes School of Music under Vera Fonaroff.[2] He was the first African-American regular member of the Lewisohn Stadium Concerts Orchestra, joining in the summer of 1959.[3] In 1962, shortly after winning the inaugural Young Concert Artists competition,[4] he became the first full-time African-American violinist with the New York Philharmonic.[5] After leaving the Philharmonic in 1977, Allen pursued a career as a soloist, teacher, and adviser on the arts. He also worked extensively recording film music.[6]

Allen has been married to Madhur Jaffrey, the Indian-born actress, food and travel writer, and television personality, since 1969.[7]

  1. ^ Singer, Hazel (23 January 2013). "Allen, Sanford (1939- )". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  2. ^ "Violinist Sanford Allen, Music Director of The Leaf Peepers, in Concert at Hillsdale Grange Sept. 15, 2012". August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  3. ^ "Stadium Orch Gets 1st Negro". New York Daily News. June 18, 1959.
  4. ^ "Debut Music Series Set: 9 Programs Listed Here by Young Concert Artists", The New York Times, October 5, 1961.
  5. ^ Caldwell Titcomb (Spring 1990). "Black String Musicians: Ascending the Scale". Black Music Research Journal. 10 (1). Center for Black Music Research – Columbia College Chicago and University of Illinois Press: 107–112. doi:10.2307/779543. JSTOR 779543.
  6. ^ "Sanford Allen". Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  7. ^ Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2008. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008.