The late Arkady Fomin would be so pleased.
Not only does his protégé and friend, Vadim Gluzman, return to Music in the Mountains for his second year as the Festival’s artistic director, Gluzman is launching the MitM Violin Academy.
It’s exactly what Fomin dreamed: an intense week of high-level coaching with evening recitals, soirees, an open master class and finally, a concert showcase for the public. It’s the model Fomin set in motion back in 1997, when the legendary director of the Dallas Conservatory of Music and member of the Dallas Symphony started the MitM Conservatory. Fomin invited Gluzman, then 24, to become one of the first faculty members of the summer academy in Durango.
Thanks to The Arkady Fomin Foundation, the Violin Academy is tuition free, and it has attracted 11 early-career violinists from around the world plus two from Colorado. Alex Chasse studies with Lauren Avery, concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony and has broadened her musical horizon by being a multiple-time alumna of the Philadelphia International Music Festival. Nathan Newman is pursuing a degree in violin performance at Colorado State University where he studies with Ron Francois.
The rest of the 2026 Academy roster includes: Mark Chia, Ilva Eigus, Maximillian James, Julian Kainrath, Jiyu Lee, Madison Lin, Julian Rhee, Shengbo Tu and Rachel Yi. Some already have advanced music degrees. Several are at the beginning of performance careers, and a few have been mentored by Gluzman. Rhee is the first Arkady Fomin Young Artist-in-Residence. He holds two music degrees from the New England Conservatory and has already embarked on an extensive solo career across North America, Europe and Asia.
The public has two unusual opportunities to witness the festival’s commitment to artistic excellence and education. Both events take place next week in Roshong Recital Hall, Fort Lewis College’s most intimate music venue. Gluzman will give a 90-minute master class beginning at 4 p.m. July 13, showcasing some of the Academy students. At 7 p.m. July 15, Gluzman will perform alongside Academy students. Although the ticketed recital is sold out, music lovers can get on a waiting list by calling 385-6820.
Last year, Gluzman began his tenure as festival artistic director. He followed in the footsteps of the late Mischa Semanitzky, who founded MitM in 1987 and retired in 2007. From 2008 to 2022, Greg Hustis acted as artistic director until Conductor Guillermo Figueroa filled both roles from 2022 to 2024.
From the mid-1990s, Gluzman has been part of the festival in a number of roles: conservatory faculty, orchestral performer, chamber music organizer and featured soloist. Now, in 2026, he’s merging all of his roles under his administrative umbrella and shaping the festival at large.
Born in Ukraine and an Israeli/U.S. citizen who lives in the United States, he leads a peripatetic life performing and teaching all over the world. He’s recognized as one of today’s top artists in classical music.
After his Durango sojourn, Gluzman heads to Spain to conduct an international master course. In mid-August, he’ll do something similar in Germany. In September, he will fly to Córdoba, Argentina, and give a recital.
Next year, Gluzman will make his highly anticipated debut with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali. And thereafter, he will be on stage with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a recitalist, Gluzman will perform in Leipzig’s legendary Gewandhaus, all the while continuing his deep-seated connection with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio, where he is both a creative partner and principal guest artist.
Collecting frequent-flyer miles along the way, Gluzman has what some might call a “day job.” He’s the Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Peabody Conservatory, affiliated with Johns Hopkins University.
Judith Reynolds is an arts journalist and member of the American Theatre Critics Association