To a Wild Rose by MacDowell - Michel Gusikoff, violin

Details

Description

Recorded 1918

Thanks to MrGer2295 for this bio of Michel Gusikoff

Mishel or Michel Gusikoff was born in May 15, 1893 in New York City. His father Morris emigrated from Russia in 1891 and sons Michel, Solomon and Benjamin all became musicians.

Michel was a violin student of Franz Kneisel who was Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1885-1903 under Gericke, Nikisch and Paur. In 1915, Michel Gusikoff became Concertmaster of the Russian Symphony in New York. He left New York in 1917 to become the Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony under Max Zach (1864-1921).

Gusikoff remained in St. Louis until the end of the 1925-1926 season. Becoming Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra for the 1926-1927 season, he joined his brother Benjamin "Benji" (1900-1956), and also Charles Gusikoff Principal trombone (1897-1966) and Principal cello Isadore Gusikoff (1901-1962) who were also Orchestra musicians. Michel and Benji Gusikoff may be brothers of Charles and Isadore Gusikoff.

Arriving in Philadelphia in 1926, Mishel Gusikoff was the first of a series of brief-service Concertmasters. After serving in Philadelphia in 1926-1927, he seemed not to find favor with Stokowski. Michel Gusikoff then assumed the Concertmaster position in the New York Symphony for the 1927-1928 season. This was the position vacated by Mischa Mischakoff, who became the Philadelphia Concertmaster succeeding Gusikoff.

Gusikoff later became a successful session musician in New York. Mishel Gusikoff died in New York City on July 10, 1978. Incidentally, Saul Caston's mother was also a Gusikoff, and Milan Yancich (1921- ) was Gusikoff's wife's nephew.