Paul Neubauer — Viola

Praised by The New York Times as “a master musician,” Paul Neubauer is internationally recognized for his exceptional musicality, effortless technique, and artistry that has redefined the viola’s place on the concert stage. In 2025, he releases two albums on First Hand Records: an all-Bartók album, including the revised version of the Viola Concerto, and a Shostakovich album featuring the composer’s monumental Viola Sonata.

At age 21, Neubauer was appointed Principal Violist of the New York Philharmonic, becoming the youngest musician ever to hold that position, which he maintained for six years. Since then, he has appeared as soloist with more than 100 orchestras worldwide, including the New York, Los Angeles, and Helsinki Philharmonics; the Chicago, National, St. Louis, Detroit, Dallas, San Francisco, and Bournemouth Symphonies; and the Mariinsky, Santa Cecilia, English Chamber, and Beethovenhalle Orchestras. A champion of contemporary music, he has premiered numerous viola concertos, with works written for him by Bartók, Penderecki, Joan Tower, Aaron Jay Kernis, Tobias Picker, and many others.

Beyond his solo career, Neubauer performs with SPA, a trio with soprano Susanna Phillips and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, which explores a wide-ranging repertoire including salon-style songs. His work has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, A Prairie Home Companion, and in Strad, Strings, and People magazines. A two-time Grammy Award nominee, his discography includes recordings for Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, RCA Red Seal, and Sony Classical.

An avid chamber musician, Neubauer is a longtime artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and serves as Artistic Director of the Mostly Music series in New Jersey. A dedicated teacher, he is on the faculties of The Juilliard School and Mannes College of Music, mentoring the next generation of violists.