Widespread mourning for quartet leader, 56

The early death of Geoff Nuttall, co-founder and first violin of the St Lawrence String Quartet, has drawn tributes from across the musical world.

Spoleto Festival USA:
Geoff Nuttall, violinist, host, and Spoleto Festival USA Director of Chamber Music, has passed away. The Board of Directors and staff of Spoleto join all whose lives were enriched by his extraordinary talent in offering our sympathies to his family.
From center stage of Charleston’s historic Dock Street Theatre, Geoff hosted the Festival’s iconic chamber music concerts since 2010, drawing enthusiastic audiences whose devout attendance owed as much to the series’ programming as the dynamism of its host and star performer.

Tenor Michae Schade:
I don’t even know what to say- a little interesting fact is , that your dad was my physics Prof at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, where we both be took our musical baby steps together( after my pre Med studies ended!) – a safe place where we studied together – where already then, you were interested beyond your instrument in others, and ever so supportive and generous, also to the likes of me!!
I was awed to be in your presence, as I honour your path and achievements, and yet, along with me, the likes of my dear friends, such Mark Podolsky must be so so sad, as must be #BarryShiffman- but what kills me, is how supportive you were of your darling wife, #LiviaSohn -also a fantastic violinist of her own, , and how proud you were of your joint kids and family- well dibr saw each other the last time in SF, just three and half years ago, as we toured the SF Bay area with Livia and with dear Kevin Murphy- I am devastated for Livia, the kids and for those of us who knew Geoff ( and it seems there is a LOT of us!)!!
The world has lost a TOP end violinist, and that FAR too soon!!

Composer Claudio Vena:
It is with a very heavy heart that I write about the passing of a friend and colleague Geoff Nuttall, 1st violonist of The st Lawrence string quartet. He lost his battle with pancreatic cancer Oct 19th at the age of 56. His playing was exquisite and he sang through every phrase and note. A sweetheart of a guy. My condolences to his family and colleagues and a special hug to Barry Shiffman and Leslie Robertson who spent thousands of hours with him traveling and making music.

Pianist Inon Barnatan:
Geoff Nuttall was a rock star, an exuberant and adventurous force of nature, music personified. A man who brought love, passion and joy to every note he played, every thing he touched and every person that had the good fortune of knowing him or hearing him play.

Phillips Collection director Jeremy Ney:
Geoff Nuttall doing what he did best: entertaining an audience in his own inimitable way, finding some obscure musical connection, conveying it with wit and honesty, and then sitting down and giving everything of himself to performance. You’re lucky if you ever meet someone like this in your life, let alone call him a friend. ‘One in a million’ doesn’t do justice to someone like you. I love you Geoff. RIP

Washington Performing Arts chief Jenny Bilfield:
News of violinist Geoff Nuttall’s passing, from pancreatic cancer, reached me as I was stepping into a Board meeting. My instinct was to reach out to several friends who knew him well — propelled by disbelief, and sadness. Burned into my mind, the words of one of our dear mutual friends and one of Geoff’s closest collaborators, Pedja Muzijevic: “Geoff Nuttall was the glue that connected so many of us.” He was a “triple threat” — equal parts vision and musical genius and humanist. From founding the St. Lawrence String Quartet (in residence at Stanford, and a partner from my very first days there), to stewarding the chamber music program at the Spoleto Music Festival, and many achievements beyond, Geoff inspired all around him. He was charismatic and connective. He had so many more years of great music-making ahead of him. What a tremendous loss for our world, for his family (the extraordinary violinist Livia Sohn, and their boys), and so many friends. I’m glad to have this memory of time with Pedja and Geoff at The Banff Center. My deepest condolences to so many of my FB friends who knew and loved him.

David Rowe, Manager, St. Lawrence String Quartet:
Geoff, Geoff, Geoff – have you really left us (physically) so soon? Words fail to capture your impact and incandescence – both to me personally and professionally within the chamber music world – but a few that jump immediately to mind are: curious, present, charismatic, fearless, spontaneous, generous, open-hearted, vulnerable, brilliant, hilarious, evangelical, and always, always completely authentic. To hear you play Haydn with your St. Lawrence colleagues – whether for the first or hundredth time – was a sublime, revelatory experience. Your reverence and genuine excitement for all repertory infused every performance, often resulting in vibrant musical alchemy.

Geoff, your enthusiasm was infectious, and helped unlock the joys of chamber music via active listening to countless students and audiences, experienced and casual alike. Your unique ability to break down formal barriers and create immediate, meaningful connection was a rare gift, cherished by all who had the good fortune to be in your presence.

Finally, I consider it one of the great privileges of my lifetime to count you a friend, and will carry your memory in my heart with a loving smile for the rest of my days. Rest peacefully, dear Geoff, you leave this world far richer for having so fully and selflessly participated!

Oh, and when you encounter Papa Haydn in some heavenly beer hall, please give him a big hug and hearty “thank you” for us mortals….that little string quartet experiment turned out pretty nicely 😉

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Barry Shiffman, Director, Banff International String Quartet Competition:
The tragic loss of Geoff is devastating, both personally and beyond. He had a passion on and off the stage that was legendary. To be in his presence was to feel alive, and one felt that whether sitting beside him in a quartet or listening to him perform. He deeply loved Banff and shared his enthusiasm for this place all around the world.