Bernard Ocko

1925

Violin

Competition Winner

Born: March 8, 1902 (New York, NY)

Died: October 15, 1972 (Winter Park, FL)

Bernard Ocko, violinist, in 1925 was named a winner in the first Walter W. Naumburg competition.

Mr. Ocko was a graduate in 1923 of Columbia University and in 1924, the Institute of Musical Art with highest honors (forerunner to Juilliard) where he studied with Franz Kneisel. In 1925, he was one of eight young artists, including Marian Anderson, who won auditions for the Lewisohn Stadium Concerts, where he made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

A prolific violinist, he gave joint recitals with the dramatic soprano Maria Jeritza and toured widely with the Musical Art Quartet. He later played in the Orlando Symphony Orchestra. He was a second violinist with the Hartman String Quartet (1925-1927) and the Musical Arts Quartet (1927-1931).

Mr. Ocko made his recital debut under the auspices of the Naumburg Foundation in Aeolian Hall, NYC, on January 13, 1926.

Musical Arts Quartet (1926): Sascha Jacobsen, Bernard Ocko, Marie Roemaet-Rosanoff and Louis Kaufman
December 15, 1933: rehearsal at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel for a concert to raise money for German-Jewish refugees: L to R: Arthur (Ossip) Giskin, Toscha Seidel, Albert Einsten, Bernard Ocko

Back row: Mrs. Seidel, Elsa Einstein, unidentified man

Competition

1925 Naumburg Competition

First Prize

Commissioned Works

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Naumburg Performances

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Recording Awards

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