Rolf Haas

Rolf Haas’ primary studies took place with Professor Yair Kless in Graz, Austria (Soloist Diploma) and with Professor Sally O'Reilly at the University of Minnesota (Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance). In 2021, he completed a Performance Leadership Certificate at Cornell. Mr. Haas plays on his grandfather's Gagliano, and the world premier of the Violin Concerto by Alban Berg was played by his grandfather's teacher Louis Krasner on this instrument. In 2013, Rolf won the Concerto Competition at his University in Graz, Austria, and was awarded the opportunity to go on a European Concert tour with the Euphony Orchestra as soloist playing the same Berg Violin Concerto. He is passionate about the stylistic language of all eras, ranging from Period Performances with the Bach Roots Festival, to working closely with living composers like Kaija Saariaho in the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. He also believes in the unity between artistic disciplines and has worked closely with Serbian Sculptor Zoran Mojsilov on many programs and projects. He currently plays with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and has performed as Guest Concertmaster of the Phoenix Symphony, Second Violin Leader of Kammerakademie Potsdam (Germany) as well as Concertmaster of the Mozaic Festival Orchestra. He has recently been featured on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today”. Rolf has also been respected as a hip-hop artist (emcee/producer). With his former group, Nocturnal Unit, he self-released 3 full length albums, and an E.P. Their final songs and records combined compositional techniques of conversational chamber music with the sonic palette of hip-hop, and hardcore punk. Currently, he is involved in a project called 13 Odd House, through which he can release new creative projects such as writings, music, and a new movie/recital series: of which the first film, ‘House of Mysterious Secrets’, was screened in Theaters and on Television in 2022.