Larry Grika, a native of Chicago, received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. He studied violin with Samuel Arron and Paul Stassevitch and chamber music with Robert Mann and Alexander Schneider.
Mr. Grika was winner of the Oliver Ditson Award for Violin. Before joining The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1964, he was a member of the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago, the Cincinnati Symphony and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. Mr. Grika has participated in the Aspen and Casals Music Festivals.
In his commitment to orchestra concerns, Mr. Grika has played an active role on Philadelphia Orchestra committees, both as chairman of the Members’ Committee and as chairman of the Negotiation Committees.
After 41 years in The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Grika retired in 2005. He continues to perform with the orchestra when needed and teaches privately in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.