Thanks to the "Old Italian", vintage 1765.

Sasha, once again you've captured our hearts with a tender, loving performance. We are so grateful!

Alexander "Sasha" Mishnaevski
Viola

"Star-caliber musicianship...soulful...virtually flawless playing...intensity, accuracy and a warm, sweet tone...uncanny rapport...technical bravura and virtuosic deftness." These are just a few of the comments made by critics about the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's principal violist, Alexander Mishnaevski.

Born in Moscow, Mishnaevski began studying the violin at age six - not unusual, since Mishnaevski's father was also a string musician, the principal violist with the Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra of Moscow. They younger Mishnaevski changed from violin to viola in the late 1970s, at the suggestion of Isaac Stern, following several master classes.

Mishnaevski emigrated to the United States in 1973, after his father decided that the West offered a more promising future. The family left Moscow just as Mishnaevski was preparing for his entrance examination at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory. Unfortunately, Mishnaevski's father didn't live to see his son perform on American soil; he passed away in Italy, while the young Mishnaevski and the rest of the family spent eight months awaiting documentation allowing them into the U.S.

Mishnaevski did complete studies at the Central Music School in Moscow prior to his emigration; once in the U.S., he graduated from the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York City and became an American citizen in 1978.

Mishnaevski joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as principal violist in 1986; from 1979 through 1985, he was principal viola for the Soviet Emigre Orchestra, and played with that group during its tours of North America, South America and Europe. Mishnaevski also held the position of principal violist for the New York Chamber Orchestra, the New York Pro Arte Ensemble, Montreal's McGill Chamber Orchestra and Orquestra Sinfonica de Xalapa in Mexico prior to joining the DSO.

Mishnaevski has performed in chamber music concerts and in recital around the world and has collaborated on chamber music projects with eminent players including Isaac Stern, Schlomo Mintz, Joseph Silverstein, Schmuel Ashkenazy, Franz Helmerson, Joseph Swenson and the Colorado Quartet.

As a soloist, Mishnaevski has appeared with the New York City Symphony, the Oklahoma Symphony, Queens Symphony Orchestra (New York), the New Jersey State Symphony, Orquestra Sinfonica de Xalapa, the Taipei Symphony and the Singapore Symphony. He has also performed in Korea and Hong Kong. Locally, Mishnaevski performs with the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Windsor (Ontario), Southfield, Grosse Pointe and Dearborn.