Richard O'Neill

Praised by the London Times as “ravishing,” the Los Angeles Times as “technically immaculate,” the Seattle Times as “fantastic,” the Boston Globe as “sensational,” the San Francisco Chronicle for his “fierce virtuosity,” the Dallas Morning News for his “most spectacular viola playing,” and the New York Times as “high class” with an “elegant, velvety tone,” Violist Richard O’Neill is one of the very few violists ever to receive an Avery Fisher Career Grant as well as a Grammy Award Nomination (Best Soloist with Orchestra). Concerto appearances include the London Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Seoul Philharmonic with François Xavier Roth, the KBS and Korean Symphony Orchestras, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Alte Musik Köln and Sejong.

A Universal Classics Recording Artist, he has made four solo albums that have sold well over 100,000 copies. His two most recent albums, Winter Journey for Deutsche Grammophon and Mysterioso for ARCHIV Produktion, have both earned him Platinum Disc Awards.

Much in demand, he was recently appointed to the roster of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as an Artist of the Society.

A popular figure in South Korea, he was the subject of a two-part, five-hour documentary for the Korean Broadcasting System that was broadcast to over 15 million people, and has been featured on all of Korea’s major television networks, radio, newspapers and magazines. In the United States, he has appeared on PBS Live from Lincoln Center and CNN, served as Young Artist-in-Residence for National Public Radio in Washington D.C., and has been featured on national radio broadcasts of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

The first violist to receive the Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School, he holds a Bachelors of Music, magna cum laude from The University of Southern California and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School. Residing in New York City and Los Angeles, he was recently honored with a Proclamation from the New York City Council for his achievement and contribution to the Arts. A dedicated teacher as well as performer, Mr. O’Neill serves on the faculty of the Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles as its youngest member.

He plays on a fine and rare viola made by Giovanni Tononi, of Bologna, circa 1699.