Spotlight | Viola

Marvin Gruenbaum

Marvin Gruenbaum is a charter member of the Kansas City Symphony viola section since its inception in 1982. He is also an eclectic violinist, having gained notoriety in bluegrass, country/western and jazz venues since 1978. As a private teacher for 50 years, he has served as a clinician for fiddle workshops, violin and viola master classes, and jazz camps. As a violinist, Marvin served for two years as Concertmaster of his high school orchestra. After high school, he studied Cultural Anthropology and Asian Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis, until eventually realizing his true calling to the music field. In 1974, he transferred to the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, attaining his B.A. in Music (Violin) in 1978, and a Master of Music (Viola Performance) in 1981. During his time at the Conservatory, Marvin continued to hone his improvisational skills (jazz, bluegrass, country/western, North Indian raga). After graduation he began a short career as a country/western fiddle player, until winning and accepting a position as a violist with the Kansas City Symphony (1982).