Sam Franko

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Sam Franko (January 20, 1857) - May 6, 1937) was an American violinist and conductor. He was the brother of concert promoter Nahan Franko.

A native of New Orleans, Franko studied the violin in Europe, working with Joseph Joachim and Henri Vieuxtemps among others. Upon his return to the United States he joined the Mendelssohn Quartet, later working with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Franko soon grew disgusted with prejudice against American musicians, and created the American Symphony, made up entirely of American performers, in 1894. With this group he gave many American premieres. Franko also taught violin and arranged 17th- and 18th-century music, and transcribed numerous pieces for the violin. His autobiography, Chords and Discords, was published in 1938, and he died in New York City in 1937.

[edit] Reference

• David Ewen, Encyclopedia of Concert Music. New York; Hill and Wang, 1959.