George Blum is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, where he began his violin studies at the age of six. In 1989 he earned a degree in violin performance from the University of Arizona, having studied with John Ferrell, and during summers, with Roy Malan, concertmaster of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. While a student, he soloed with the University of Arizona Symphony, and in 1986 he joined the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.
From 1990 to 1993 Mr. Blum interrupted his career with the TSO to enroll in the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City and study violin making under Peter Paul Prier. He received the title of Master Luthier upon graduation in 1993.
George is a frequent chamber music performer in and around Tucson. He has also performed with the American Sinfonietta in Bellingham, Washington; the Telluride Music Festival in Colorado; the Music in the Mountains series in Estes Park, Colorado; and the Great Music West Festival Orchestra in Bear Lake, Utah. George has played three seasons with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has also done much studio recording in Salt Lake City. In 1990 the TSO honored Mr. Blum with a grant to perform a recital with his pianist wife Cheryl Smith Blum in Guamuchil, Mexico.
Now a Master Violin Maker, he continues handcrafting string instruments at his studio here in Tucson. He also continues to refine his woodcrafting skills at various workshops throughout the country. His instruments have won recognition at the Southern Arizona Violin Makers Competition. Mr. Blum plays a violin he made in his own studio here in Tucson.
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