Biography / SVEND RONNING, violinist

Svend Rønning is Chair of the String Division at Pacific Lutheran University and Associate Professor of Music.

Dr. Rønning is a native of the Pacific Northwest and holds an undergraduate degree in violin performance from Pacific Lutheran University, which he earned in 1989. He subsequently earned Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Yale University. His teachers include Syoko Aki, Sidney Harth, Jaap Schröder, and Ann Tremaine.

He is of the most active violinists in the region, serving as Concertmaster of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, violinist of the Regency String Quartet, violinist of the Puget Sound Consort as well as frequent soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist. Dr. Rønning is also Artistic Director of the Second City Chamber Series, Tacoma's award winning producer of chamber music concerts and chamber music educational programs.

Svend Rønning has served as Concertmaster of various orchestras including the Charlottesville Symphony, the San Jose Symphony, the Spoleto U.S.A. Chamber Orchestra, and the Tacoma Opera Orchestra. As soloist, he has appeared with numerous orchestras, including the Charlottesville Symphony, the Everett Symphony, the Prague Radio Symphony, Orchestra Seattle, and the Tacoma Youth Symphony. His repertoire includes most of the standard violin concertos as well as concertos by Alban Berg, Walter Ross (written for him) and Miklós Rózsa.

Chamber music appearances include performances at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, the Mostly Nordic Chamber Series in Seattle, the Washington State Governor's Mansion Chamber Series, the Methow Music Festival, and Chamber Concerts for the Eastern Music Festival, Wintergreen Music Festival and Second City Chamber Series. Projects for the current year include multiple performances of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, and a solo appearance with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in Ravel’s Tzigane and Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Dr. Rønning will also premiere a new string quartet by PLU faculty composer, Dr. Gregory Youtz.

As a teacher, Svend Rønning has served on the faculty of Pacific Lutheran University since 1999. Prior to this appointment, he served on the music faculty of the University of Virginia and has been pleased to train young musicians who have gone on to careers with significant orchestras including the Virginia Symphony, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Bellevue Philharmonic, and the Tacoma Symphony. He has also been privileged to be part of the development of many fine music teachers who serve in public and private schools including the faculties of the Asbury College and Center Colleges in Kentucky as well as students who have distinguished themselves in public school districts throughout the country.