After some early studies in Tokyo, violinist and conductor Hidetaro Suzuki (Tokyo, 1939) worked from 1956-63 with Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institute. He was a finalist in the 1962 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and a finalist in the 1963 and 1967 Queen Elisabeth Competitions, and won second prize in the 1966 Montreal International Competition. While he was concertmaster of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra (1963-77) he also performed with the orchestra as soloist and guest conductor. In addition, he taught at the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec, where Pierre Mongrain was one of his pupils. Hidetaro Suzuki has toured in the USA, Japan, the USSR, France, Belgium, Cuba, and Canada, both as a soloist with orchestra and in recital, accompanied by his wife, the pianist Zeyda Suzuki, with whom he organises the Suzuki & Friends chamber music series. His large repertoire, extending from the classics to contemporary works, is served by a strong technique and a keen musicality. He is a former concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.