Gerald Beal

Gerald Beal (23 Dec 1932—2002) was an American violinist, twin-brother of Wilfred Beal. Together they gained fame as, perhaps, the only prominent twin virtuosi who'd play the same instrument on the professional stage at such a level. European press of the time praised the duo's flawless synchronicity and unison playing, "uncanny and amazing as can be expected only from identical twins." After an immensely successful but brief career as duo-soloists in their 'teens, when brothers Beal had toured across the United States and overseas extensively (both as recitalists and soloists with significant orchestras), they retired from the stage and focused on teaching—approx. in the early/mid-'60s. Gerald and Wilfred received their musical education and initial training as Juilliard School's scholarship students in New York, from the legendary Ivan Galamian. Whereas most prominent American violinists before this time studied in Europe with Eugène Ysaÿe, Otakar Ševčík, and Carl Flesch, Galamian's students stood at the inception of the contemporary "American violin school:" Michael Rabin, Jaime Laredo, Erick Friedman, Arnold Steinhardt, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman—and brothers Beal. Subsequently, Gerald Beal also studied with Jascha Heifetz for six years. In 1950, the famous Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů (who resided in New York since '41) wrote his Concerto for Two Violins & Orchestra (H. 329) specifically for brothers Beal. The duo premiered Martinů's "Concerto" with Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Walter Hendl's baton in 1951 and later performed it with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Chicago and The Little Orchestra Society at Town Hall, New York. In Jan 1957, Gerald and Wilfred Beal gave the first US-premiere of Louis Spohr's newly-discovered Concerto for 2 Violins & Orchestra at New York's Town Hall, as soloists with The Little Orchestra conducted by Thomas Scherman. Some of Gerald Beal's students include Daniel Morganstern and Hlíf Sigurjónsdóttir.