Curtis Mourns the Passing of Violist Burton Fine (Violin ’48)

The Curtis community mourns the passing of distinguished alumnus Burton Fine (Violin ’48), who passed away at his home in Newton, Massachusetts, at age 94. Former principal violist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for nearly 30 years, and a member of the section for an additional ten years, Mr. Fine previously worked as a research chemist for nine years at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Fine also taught viola and chamber music at New England Conservatory; among his students there was Roberto Díaz, who attended NEC prior to studying at Curtis.

Mr. Fine was born in Philadelphia in 1930 and won a composition prize as a young child with dreams of studying composition with Gian Carlo Menotti (’93), before his focus shifted to the violin. From 1944–48, he studied violin with Ivan Galamian at Curtis until his graduation at age 17. He then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.A. in chemistry, and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he received a doctoral degree in chemistry, going on to publish scientific papers in the journal Combustion and Flame.

In a 1964 interview with the New York Times, Mr. Fine reflected on the journey that led him to his role as principal violist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra: “I worked on problems of aircraft and space propulsion. But I’m not a research man; I’m not an original thinker in the field. I always knew my career would be in music.”

Mr. Fine first joined the BSO as a violinist in 1963, until a principal violist position became vacant later that year, when violist Joseph de Pasquale, at the request of Eugene Ormandy, transferred to the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1964. He flew to Boston for the audition and ended up serving as principal violist until 1993, playing in the section until his retirement in 2004.

Throughout his career, Mr. Fine appeared in recital at London’s Wigmore Hall and frequently appeared as soloist on both viola and viola d’amore with the BSO, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and various musical organizations across the United States, performing, touring, and recording with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. Solo violist on the BSO’s recording of Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on CBS/Sony Music, he is featured in chamber music recordings on the CRI, Northeastern, Gunmar, and Chandos labels. 

Our heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to Burton Fine’s family, friends, colleagues, former students, and loved ones. 

Read the tribute to Mr. Fine at The Strad.

Listen to a 2004 WGBH interview with Mr. Fine about his life and careers.  

Photo credits: 1.) Violist Burton Fine (seated, second from left) with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, pictured; circa 1965. Courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 2.) In front of 1726 Locust Street (L–R): Theodore Lettvin (Piano ’49); Norman Carol (Violin ’47); Allison Nelson (Piano ’49); Abba Bogin (Piano ’49); Burton Fine (Violin ’48); Lucille Rothman (Piano ’50); Joseph Rezits (Piano ’48); Josephine Sitjar (Voice ’46); Sylvia Zaremba (Piano ’51); Joseph Silverstein (Violin ’50); circa 1948. 3.) A Curtis picnic at Schuylkill Park in 1947 (L–R): Burton Fine, Eleanor Lipkin (Piano ’51), Nancy Heaton (Violin ’52), Abba Bogin, Joseph Rezits.