Before joining Eastman’s string faculty in 1949, Francis Tursi (1922-1991) received two bachelor of music degrees from Eastman, one in composition in 1947 and one in viola in 1948. Prior to his studies at Eastman, Mr. Tursi received diplomas in viola and composition from the Curtis Institute, in 1942 and 1946. During his career as professor of viola, Mr. Tursi performed chamber music regularly with several Eastman-affiliated ensembles over a 30-year period, such as the Kilbourn Quartet, the Eastman Piano Quartet, the Eastman Trio, and the Eastman String Quartet. He later performed with the New England Piano Quartet. He was a frequent performer at the Marlboro Festival in Vermont, and recorded all of Mozart’s string quintets with the Fine Arts Quartet. Mr. Tursi was a visiting professor of viola at the Hartt School of Music and at the University of Maine. By the time he retired in 1985, Francis Tursi was well-known in the string community for his emphasis on relaxation, technique, musicianship, and tone quality.
Eastman School of Music
