Peter Jarvis

Peter Jarvis began his violin studies at the age of 5, in Canada. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Music degree and then completed a Master of Music degree in violin performance at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Peter’s ambition to pursue a career in chamber music led him to a violinist position with the Museaus String Quartet in Alberta, Canada. While concertizing with the quartet for nine years, he taught violin at the University of Lethbridge and coached chamber music and chamber orchestra. He became director of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Lethbridge and helped establish an endowed tuition scholarship fund. He was also principal second violin of the Lethbridge Symphony and Southern Alberta Chamber Orchestra and frequently appeared as soloist.

In 1990, Peter joined Reuning & Son Violins in Ithaca, New York to pursue his interest in violin restoration as a hobby. He enjoyed learning at the bench at Reuning & Son Violins and being responsible for the sound evaluation of the instruments. While living in Ithaca, he continued his performing career as concertmaster of the Rochester Bach Festival and assistant concertmaster of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.

When Reuning & Son Violins relocated to Boston in 1994, Peter did, too. He spent time at the bench in the first years in Boston but ultimately applied his skills to a full-time role in customer assistance and instrument presentation. He enjoys working with string players of every level and interest and has a genuine enthusiasm for matching instrument and musician in a successful partnership.

Peter maintains his dedication to performing and teaching. He is concertmaster of Marblehead, Mass.-based Symphony by the Sea and freelances with several local orchestras. At the New England Conservatory, he coaches chamber music and conducts the String Training Orchestras and the String Chamber Orchestra. In 2011 he was awarded the New England Conservatory Preparatory School’s Jean Stackhouse Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has also just been selected as one of thirty 2017 Musical America Movers & Shapers.

Peter shares his love of string music with his family: his wife and daughter play violin, and his son plays cello.