Violinist FRED LIFSITZ grew up in Newton, Massachusetts where he studied with Marylou Churchill.

Interested in becoming a Violinist, Rabbi or Doctor, he was convinced by Isaac Stern to start with the violin as a profession and then, if needed, switch to one of the other paths.

He went on to study with Paul Biss and Henryk Kowalski at Indiana University and then, after a summer of Tanglewood, was invited by Seiji Ozawa to play with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for three seasons before joining the Alexander String Quartet on April 1, 1987.  

As a member of the ASQ, he has played concerts in the major musical capitals of four continents repeatedly for nearly three decades.  The quartet has been on the faculty of San Francisco State University since 1989 and serves as the residence ensemble of the San Francisco Performances since 1989.  

Fred's additional pursuits include Yoga and all types of aerobic exercise, watercolor painting, Torah study, reading and most importantly, attending his children's sport and artistic activities.  

Fred resides in San Francisco with his wife and their two children.