Obituary: violist Ronald Arron

Violist Ronald Arron has died. Arron was born in in Chicago, and first studied violin under the tutelage of his father, before joining the Chicago Youth Symphony and later graduating from the Northwestern University in Illinois, US. He performed as the assistant principal violist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1968 until 1986, and as the principal violist of the Metropolitan Orchestra from 1986 until 2005. He continued to play as the principal violist for the NY Pops even after his retirement, and served as the music director of Chamber Music at Rye Presbyterian, NY.

In a tribute on its Instagram page, the Metropolitan Orchestra remembers Arron fondly: ‘We are saddened to learn of the passing of violist Ron Arron… Ron was always smiling, joking and had a kind spirit that lifted those around him and was a frequent audience member at the Met after his retirement.’

Arron’s wife Judith Arron, former executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, died in 1998. Arron’s son Edward is an active performer and the associate professor of cello at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

‘Ron was a prince and a gentleman,’ wrote Julie Landsman, principal horn-player of the Metropolitan Orchestra. ‘I’m saddened to hear of his passing. Sending condolences to his family.’

Playing

In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.

Teaching

The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.

Calendars

American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.