ERNEST BRUSUBARDIS IV
Violin, Fiddle, Mandolin
Ernest Brusubardis IV began musical studies at the age of 4, studying piano from his Mother and Grandfather. At 6 he began violin with Mary Ellen Meyer, and continued his studies with Dr. Bernard Zinck at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
After receiving a Bachelors in Fine Arts (Violin Performance) from UW-Milwaukee in 2012, Ernest went on to earn a Masters in Music (String Emphasis) from UWM in 2016. During his graduate studies, Ernest was coached by Dr. Zinck and Professor Elena Abend, as a member of the Sorkin Institute of Chamber Music.
Performing in Latvian Song Festivals in the S and Canada, Ernest has also collaborated with the Riso Quartet, the Milwaukee Latvian String Quartet, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and was Concertmaster of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra for their 99th (2017) and 100th (2018) seasons.
Ernest enjoys playing all sorts of music on all sorts of instruments, and currently is in Wisco band Chicken Wire Empire. This musical journey has blessed Ernest with opportunities to tour Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain and throughout the United States.
When not on stage, Ernest gives private lessons on violin, guitar, and mandolin, while instructing at local schools and giving workshops on improvisation and music. Ernest currently resides in Milwaukee with his wife and two children.