Tessa Lark
Violinist Tessa Lark is one of the most captivating artistic voices of our time, consistently praised by critics and audiences for her astounding range of sounds, technical agility, and musical elegance. In 2020, she was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category, and she is also a highly acclaimed fiddler in the tradition of her native Kentucky.
Recent highlights include the world premiere of Carlos Izcaray’s Violin Concerto and performances of Michael Torke’s violin concerto, Sky—both pieces written for her—as well as her European orchestral debut with the Stuttgart Philharmonic. Lark also performed receently with the Virginia Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, England’s City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and others, and gave duo concerts with double bassist Michael Thurber and jazz guitarist Frank Vignola.
Lark’s most recent album, The Stradgrass Sessions, was released in 2023. Her debut commercial recording was the Grammy-nominated Sky, and her discography also includes Fantasy; Invention, recorded with Michael Thurber, and a live recording of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.
In addition to her busy performance schedule, Lark champions young aspiring artists and supports the next generation of musicians through her work as co-host/creative of NPR’s From the Top.
Lark plays a ca. 1600 G.P. Maggini violin on loan from an anonymous donor through the Stradivari Society of Chicago.