The multi-talented Joel Smirnoff, primarily as violinist and conductor, was also President of the Cleveland Institute of Music from 2008 until 2016. As former Chair of the Violin Department of the Juilliard School from 1991 to 2008, he was a member of the Juilliard String Quartet beginning in 1986, and the ensemble’s leader from 1997-2009. Mr. Smirnoff was a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for six years in the 1980’s and Head of String Studies at the Tanglewood Music Center during the late 1990’s.

Mr. Smirnoff has appeared as a conductor with many orchestras within the United States, Europe and Asia, with an amazingly wide repertoire, most notably a remarkable recording of Elliott Carter’s Piano Concerto with the Basel Sinfonietta and Charles Rosen as pianist.

Mr. Smirnoff has also worked in the field of jazz, performing violin improvisations frequently with singer Tony Bennett and other major jazz artists, having contributed two improvised solos to the Grammy-winning CD, “Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool.” Mr. Smirnoff received the 2011 Lifetime Grammy Award for his many recordings with the Juilliard String Quartet and the 2011 Alumni Professional Achievement Award from the University of Chicago, his Alma Mater.