Brian Isaacs
viola
American violist Brian Isaacs gained international recognition as First Prize (ex aequo) laureate of the 2025 Concours de Genève, adding to top prizes at the Markneukirchen, Oskar Nedbal, and Max Rostal International Viola Competitions, plus honors from the Verbier Festival Academy and Yale University.
Between 2023–25, Isaacs was a member of the Karajan-Akademie of the Berliner Philharmoniker, performing regularly in the orchestra's viola section and touring with them throughout Europe and the United States. During the 2025–26 season, he served as assistant principal violist of the orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin. As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Philharmonisches Orchester Gießen, and Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin.
An avid chamber musician, he has participated in festivals including Boscobel, Four Seasons, Gstaad, La Jolla, Marlboro, Methow Valley, NUME, CMS Palm Beach, Taos, Thy, Tonhain Kollektiv, Verbier, Viridian Strings, and Yellow Barn. From 2027–2030, Isaacs will be a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's Bowers Program.
Born and raised in New York City, Isaacs attended LaGuardia High School and Yale University, earning degrees in sociology and music. He completed his Artist Diploma at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts under Tabea Zimmermann, with whom he continues to study at the Kronberg Academy, where his studies are funded by the Yehudi Menuhin patronage.