Peter Kamnitzer, born on November 27, 1922, in Berlin, was a German-American violist who began playing the violin at age six. After fleeing Nazi persecution in 1941, he studied viola at the Manhattan School of Music and later at the Juilliard School of Music under Milton Katims. Kamnitzer joined LaSalle Quartet in 1947, performing with Walter Levin, Henry Meyer, and various cellists until its dissolution in 1988. The ensemble was influential for their interpretations, particularly of the Second Viennese School. From 1953 to 1988, Kamnitzer taught at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. After 1988, he served as a jury member for various music competitions and continued teaching in Austria and Israel. Kamnitzer passed away on February 23, 2016.
