In Memoriam: Michael Tree (1934-2018)

Viola faculty member and Guarneri Quartet stalwart Michael Tree died March 30 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 84 and is survived by his wife, the former Jani Kreck, two children, and one grandson. Tree joined the Juilliard faculty in 2002 and also taught at Curtis, Manhattan School of Music, Bard, the University of Southern California, and the University of Maryland.

The son of Samuel Applebaum (Diploma ’27, violin) and Sada Rothman Applebaum, he was born February 19, 1934, in Newark, started playing the violin at 5, and entered Curtis at 12, where the director, Efrem Zimbalist, insisted he use the last name Tree. Michael Tree made his Carnegie Hall debut shortly before graduating from Curtis and continued to play violin for a number of years, including with major orchestras in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. He didn’t switch to the viola (though he performed on both over the years) until co-founding the Guarneri, which made its debut in 1965. Tree’s New York Times obituary noted that Tree’s “lyrical, deeply expressive playing style helped make the Guarneri Quartet one of the world’s preeminent chamber groups, and whose rambunctious personality and diplomatic approach were key to the ensemble’s unrivaled longevity.”

Shortly after Tree died, faculty member Hsin-Yun Huang (MM ’94, viola; faculty 2002-present) wrote about her teacher and colleague.

By Hsin-Yun Huang
We’ve lost a great artist of the viola, Michael Tree of the Guarneri String Quartet. Michael Tree was a truly beautiful musician. His unique and glorious sound was the envy of all of us, and will remain a kind of grail to which posterity will always aspire. Despite his pre-eminence in the chamber music world, he had a lovely and humble character that never failed to touch everyone around him; and his great sense of humor and its succinct timing never failed to startle and delight. 

When I first came to Curtis to study as a young violist, I did not yet own an instrument. Mr. Tree was kind in lending me his second instrument at that time. It was a wonderful Moes & Moes viola that I had the privilege of owning and playing on for the following 10 years, including my time in the Borromeo Quartet (as serendipity would have it, it’s still part of that quartet). This is just one example of the constant generosity of Mr. Tree and his wife, Jani, toward his students, who benefited from it time and again. I know we are all sharing feelings of loss and grief.

To those who knew him, I say we are all so blessed in carrying our many memories of him. To those who did not, I say run and listen to all the recordings of the Guarneri Quartet. You will hear beauty, honesty and humility, with Mr. Tree at the center.