Life Member. Violin
(9/7/1922 – 6/2/2015)

by Susan Chatman

Violinist Arnold Belnick, soloist and studio musician, made his transition in Granada Hills on June 2, 2015. He was 92 years old. A New York native and child prodigy since the age of 4, Arnold won his first major American competition at the age of 15 and played his concert debut in Town Hall. Hailed as a “young Joseph Sziget,” Arnold was a featured soloist with the New York Philharmonic and gained critical acclaim after he recorded for Columbia Records.

As a student of Persinger, Galamian and Heifetz, Arnold later recorded and performed with Heifetz, Piatigorsky and Primrose under RCA Records. Arnold was the Professor of Violin at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. When offered opportunities in Los Angeles, Arnold took his family there where he settled in the recording studios for over 40 years, playing on numerous top movie and phonograph recordings.

In Los Angeles, Arnold continued his career as a soloist, performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (along with his longtime friend Israel Baker as Concertmaster) and was featured on television nationwide in Japan, playing the Shostakovich Violin Concerto with the NHK Symphony of Tokyo. Arnold also recorded three albums for Cambria Records; Music for Violin and Piano by Prokofiev; The Violin Sonatas of Grieg and The Violin and Piano Music of Grazyna Baecwicz.

Passionate about the violin and music, Arnold played on his Jupiter Stradivarius every day until he was 91, and continued to teach even when he could not play anymore.

I studied with Arnold for 5 years in the early ’90s. After I stopped studying with him, I still visited frequently. With his wife Blanche, we ate lunch around the kitchen table as we philosophized about music and the issues of the world. Arnold was a profound, witty and insightful man. He was generous and gave his time and love to many. Even while ill, he always began the conversation with, “How are YOU doing?” It was never about himself.

When in the military, an Officer appreciated Arnold’s musicianship and assigned him the duty of performing for them. He insisted that his friend, Burt Lancaster accompany him and the pianist. He said, “No one could turn pages like Burt”. I remarked, “Arnold, I didn’t know Burt Lancaster could read music!” and he mischievously responded, “He couldn’t. We told him when to turn the page. Since he was my good friend, I wasn’t going to leave him behind.” In Burt’s last days, Arnold performed at this dear friend’s bedside.

A true friend, a great violinist, a fine gentleman and a beautiful soul…

Arnold is survived by his wife Blanche Belnick, two children and three grandchildren.