In Memoriam: Joel Krosnick (1941–2025)

Beloved Cellist, Educator, and Champion of Chamber and Contemporary Music

Cellist Joel Krosnick, a towering figure in the world of classical music and a deeply influential teacher and mentor, passed away in April 2025 at the age of 84. With a career that spanned more than five decades, Krosnick was renowned for his passionate artistry, deep musical intellect, and unwavering commitment to both the classical canon and contemporary repertoire.

Paul Katz, Founder of CelloBello and cellist of the Cleveland Quartet, shared,”Joel was a legendary colleague, both as a performer and teacher, and it is with great sadness that I learned of his passing. The Cleveland Quartet and Juilliard Quartet had several decades of career camaraderie and I so greatly admired his kinetic energy and artistry. Few teachers have left such a lasting mark on the cello world as Joel. Generations of both Juilliard Quartet audiences and Krosnick students were enriched by him and we all are forever grateful.”

Born on April 3, 1941 in New Haven, Connecticut, Krosnick studied at Columbia University, where he developed a lifelong devotion to new music. He was a founding member of The Group for Contemporary Music and gave numerous premieres by such distinguished composers as Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter, Donald Martino, Ralph Shapey, Richard Wernick, Roger Sessions, Stefan Wolpe, and Charles Wuorinen. His championing of new works became a hallmark of his artistic life.
Krosnick is perhaps best known for his 42-year tenure as the cellist of the Juilliard String Quartet (1974–2016), during which time the ensemble recorded the complete string quartets of Beethoven, Bartók, Brahms, Hindemith, Janáček, and Schoenberg, among others. As a member of the quartet, he performed around the globe and recorded extensively for Sony Classical, Wergo, CRI, and other prominent labels. In 2011, the Quartet received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

In parallel with his chamber music career, Krosnick enjoyed a distinguished partnership spanning over four decades with pianist Gilbert Kalish. Together, the duo recorded the complete Beethoven and Brahms sonatas for Arabesque and presented annual recitals in New York, including a notable performance at Juilliard in 2015 featuring works by Mieczysław Weinberg and Ralph Shapey.

A passionate and revered educator, Krosnick was appointed to the faculty of The Juilliard School in 1974 and served as Chair of the Cello Department from 1994 until his retirement. He received the Juilliard School President’s Medal for Service to the Arts in 2015 in recognition of his profound contributions to the institution and the broader musical community. In Juilliard’s words:

“Throughout his extraordinary career, 50 years of which were dedicated to Juilliard, Joel inspired and supported countless students. Those who had the privilege of working with him quickly recognized his fierce dedication to teaching, his unique ability to guide students toward their highest potential, and the depth of his humanity.”

Beyond Juilliard, Krosnick held faculty positions at the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival—where he was named Artistic Advisor in 2015—as well as The Perlman Music Program, and he was regularly associated with the Aspen, Marlboro, Yellow Barn, Tanglewood, and Piatigorsky Seminar festivals. His influence extended internationally through his masterclasses, recordings, and mentorship.

Krosnick’s accolades include the Chevalier du Violoncelle Award from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and honorary doctorates from Michigan State University, Jacksonville University, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Joel Krosnick leaves behind an enduring legacy as a performer, teacher, and advocate for music’s past, present, and future. His recordings, his students, and the countless lives he touched through his artistry will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Selected Recordings

• Beethoven: Cello Sonatas & Variations
• Debussy, Janáček, Hindemith, Cowell: In the Shadow of World War I
• In The Shadow Of World War II: Cello Sonatas by Prokofiev, Poulenc & Carter
• Brahms: Complete Cello Sonatas Plus Intermezzi, Op. 117, And Trio In A Minor, Op. 114
• The Virtuoso Cello: Works By Chopin, Fauré, Servais, Saint-Saëns

From the CelloBello Archives

• Joel Krosnick Master Class: Schumann Adagio & Allegro, Op. 70
• Conversation with Joel Krosnick (March, 2005)