Brett Deubner
"The warmth and body of texture he draws from his instrument makes compelling listening of whatever he is playing."
Gramophone
"Deubner played with dynamic virtuosity hitting the center of every note no matter how many there were..."
New Jersey Star Ledger
"...a spellbinding collection of new music that deftly explores the emotional and technical range of the viola."
- Strings Magazine
As a concerto soloist, Deubner’s debut with the Grammy award-winning New Jersey Symphony Orchestra premiering Lalo Schifrin’s Triple Concerto resulted in numerous subsequent engagements throughout the U.S. and abroad. Deubner went on to perform worldwide as one of this century’s most important viola soloists appearing with more than 90 orchestras in 14 countries to unanimous approval for “the warmthand sparkling” quality of his playing. (Doblinger Press, Vienna) To date Deubner has received over 50 viola concertos composed and dedicated to him and he has made 25 CDs on various labels such as Naxos, Orchid, Centaur, Innova, Parma and Albany to critical acclaim and glowing reviews.
In 2017 Deubner received the United States Congressional Certificate of Recognition for his commitment to music and education. In 2019 Deubner received a Latin Grammy nomination for “Best Classical CD Recording” for his recording of Houston Dunleavy’s Concerto “A Kiss Before the World’s End” with the Orquesta de Heredia of Costa Rica. He is a recipient of the 2022 Global Music Awards Silver Medal for his recording “Transfiguration” an album of works by Stanley Grill for two, three and four violas of which he recorded all the parts.
American violist Brett Deubner has established himself as one of the foremost violists of his generation. As a sought after soloist who has performed with orchestras on five continents, Deubner has redefined the role of “solo artist” and given the viola a new standing in the world of classical music through his virtuosity, commitment to championing new music and dedication to fostering the next generation’s young artists.
In the fall of 2022 he made concerto recordings in Prague with the Czech Chamber
Philharmonic and in Estonia with the Laanesaarte Kammerorkester. In the fall of 2023 Brett recorded the new viola concerto by American Patrick O’Malley with the BBC Scottish National Symphony for Orchid Classics.
A devoted and passionate chamber music collaborator Deubner has performed with Pinchas Zukerman, Joseph Kalichstein, Andre Michel- Schub, the Tokyo Quartet, Vermeer Quartet, Colorado Quartet clarinetists Guy Deplus and Alexander Fiterstein, as well as flutists Ransom Wilson and Carol Wincenc.
Brett Deubner makes his home in the Winston Salem area and serves on the string faculty of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Where he heads the viola department and is the chamber music coordinator. He is also on the faculty of the Round Top Festival in Texas for the past 14 seasons. He plays on a viola made for him by Alejandro Bacelar and is officially endorsed by D’Addario, the world’s largest strings manufacturer, as a solo artist who uses the Kaplan Amo strings exclusively.