Gregory L. Fulkerson Papers, 1966-2014
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Gregory L. Fulkerson was born on May 9, 1950, in Iowa City, Iowa. He spent most of his early years and adolescence in Louisville, Kentucky. Fulkerson was musically inclined from a young age – he began studying the violin at age 4, and would go on to win local competitions in both violin and piano during his childhood. In 1971, Fulkerson graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics, with honors.
Following his graduation from Oberlin in 1971, Fulkerson accepted a position with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, where he remained for 3 seasons. In 1974, Fulkerson returned to school, this time in the Master of Music program at The Juilliard School in New York City, which he completed in 1977. While at Juilliard, Fulkerson studied under distinguished violinist and teacher Ivan Galamian, among others. In 1979, Fulkerson took a position as concertmaster of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, in which he continued to serve until 1981.
A pivotal moment in Fulkerson’s early career occurred in 1980, when the then thirty-year-old artist became the first violinist to take first prize in the International American Music Competition, sponsored by the Kennedy Center and the Rockefeller Foundation. As a result of his success, Fulkerson’s career rapidly advanced, and he quickly became a prominent and actively performing young violinist. In the next few years, Fulkerson would make his solo debut in New York, London, Paris, and Brussels, among other cities, including a performance at Carnegie Hall accompanied by the American Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout his career as a performer Fulkerson continued to be particularly associated with American music, and with lesser-known and modern repertoire in general. He played in the premiere performances of a number of works by composers such as Charles Ives, Roy Harris, John Becker, and Richard Wernick. He also commissioned works by his composing contemporaries. In pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Juilliard in the late 1980s, Fulkerson wrote a thesis on Becker’s Violin Concerto.
In 1982, Fulkerson joined the Oberlin Conservatory faculty as a visiting associate professor. He was appointed to the position of associate professor in 1984. While teaching at Oberlin, Fulkerson continued to maintain a robust performing schedule across the country and the globe, including a 1992 world tour as the titular character in a revival of the Philip Glass’ opera Einstein on the Beach. Fulkerson also spent summers both as a performer and as a faculty member with such organizations as Musicorda Summer String Program (Massachusetts), Grand Teton Music Festival (Wyoming), and the Alexandria Festival of the Lakes (Minnesota). He was granted at least two periods of research leave, which enabled him first to record the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin, and later to travel to Europe for research purposes.
Fulkerson’s career was defined by his virtuosic talent as a soloist, as well as by his commitment to underrepresented and underappreciated violin repertoire. He was especially dedicated to championing the works of American and other modern composers. In addition to his solo career and musical advocacy, Fulkerson continued as a member of the Oberlin Conservatory faculty, influencing the musical education of generations of students during his thirty-five-year teaching career. Fulkerson retired in the spring of 2017, with the intention of moving to New York, where he is also on faculty at the New York University Steinhardt School of Music.
Sources Consulted
Adler, Andrew. “Fulkerson will play the Harris concerto he rescued.” The Courier-Journal (March 31, 1985).
Rosenberg, Donald. “Unforgettable Fulkerson.” Oberlin Conservatory Magazine. (2017): 53.
Sweitzer, Paul. ‘Nerd’ on the school bus now virtuoso violinist.” The Yuma Daily Sun (October 5, 1994).
Woerner/Bobrick Associates. “Gregory Fulkerson, Violinist, 1985-86 Program Biography.”
Author: Christina Ruggiero-Corliss Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative Information
The Gregory L. Fulkerson Papers provide substantial documentation of the professional life of this Oberlin College and Conservatory alumnus and violin professor. The papers consist of biographical information, correspondence and a few photographs, in addition to materials relating to teaching, recording, and performing. The papers are arranged into eight series: I. Biographical, II. Correspondence, III. Grants and Fellowships, IV. Materials Relating to the Conservatory of Music, V. Performances, VI. Recordings and Related Materials, VII. Teaching, and VIII. Photographs.
This collection contains a large quantity of material documenting Fulkerson’s career as a professional violinist, including his endeavors in teaching, recording, and performing. Series V. Performances is particularly worth noting for the depth and breadth with which it captures over four decades worth of Fulkerson’s appearances. This series contains materials from festivals at which Fulkerson performed repeatedly, individual concerts, and the 1992 world tour of Philip Glass’ opera Einstein On The Beach, in which Fulkerson played the title role. Other areas in which this collection provides particularly thorough coverage are Series II. Correspondence, and Series VII. Teaching.
These papers provide little insight into Fulkerson’s personal life. Some references to family and marital status may be found in Series I. Biographical, and while most of the material in Series II. Correspondence is career-related, some of Fulkerson’s correspondents appear to be both professional contacts and personal friends. However, the overwhelming focus of this collection is on Fulkerson’s career as an actively performing and recording violinist and violin professor, not on his personal life.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Biographical Files, 1975-2002, n.d.
Consists of a variety of materials relating to the professional career of Gregory Fulkerson. The series contains resumes, press clippings, practice schedules, and publicity materials, as well as a draft of Fulkerson’s Doctor of Musical Arts thesis from The Juilliard School.
Series II. Correspondence, 1966-2005, n.d.
The correspondence series consists of a variety of letters, cards and other materials relating to particular individuals with whom Fulkerson was associated either personally, professionally, or both. The materials are arranged alphabetically by last name.
Series III. Grants and Fellowships, 1983-2001
Consists of materials relating to Fulkerson’s applications for funding for his artistic projects from various sources. Included are both proposals that received funding and those that did not. The majority of folders contain material relating to applications for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Also included are application materials relating to the Oberlin Research and Development Committee’s Powers Travel Grant and other funding through the Oberlin Research and Development Committee.
Series IV. Materials Relating to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 1973-2003
This series contains materials relating to Fulkerson’s time as a faculty member in the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. It includes correspondence relating to internal affairs of the Conservatory and materials from Fulkerson’s time on the New Music Committee, as well as information on events sponsored by the Conservatory, such as the Soviet Youth Orchestra exchange and the Oberlin String Institute.
Series V. Performances, 1973-2014, n.d.
Contains programs, posters and other promotional materials relating to performances given by Fulkerson both at Oberlin and elsewhere. This series includes materials relating to the 1992 world tour of Philip Glass’ Einstein on the Beach, in which Fulkerson played the titular role.
Series VI. Recordings and Related Materials, 1984-1999, n.d.
This series incorporates materials relating to Fulkerson’s recording projects, some completed and some not. Among the works represented here are those by Charles Ives, Roy Harris, John Becker, Gerald Levinson, and J.S. Bach. Also included are materials relating to research leaves taken by Fulkerson for the purposes of recording or researching recording spaces in 1993-94 as well as 1999.
Series VII. Teaching Materials, 1980-2006, n.d.
Contains materials relating to Fulkerson’s teaching career, both at Oberlin as well as temporary or seasonal appointments at other institutions such as Bowling Green State University, Indiana University, and summer programs such as the Musicorda String Institute (Massachusetts) and the Aria International Summer Academy (Massachusetts).
Series VIII. Photographs, 1980-2002, n.d.
Contains photographs documenting some of Fulkerson’s professional engagements, including his performances, and his time on faculty at youth summer music camps.