The Professional History of Maurice Sklar

Dr. Maurice Sklar was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a Russian-Jewish family with a rich musical heritage. At age four, he began playing the violin. He won numerous awards from the age of nine, and left home to study violin with Fredell Lack in Houston, Texas, when he was only thirteen. He attended Meadowmount Summer Music School for seven consecutive years from the age of thirteen to nineteen. Accepted at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City at the age of fifteen, Maurice subsequently won a scholarship to attend the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of sixteen, where he studied with the great violin teacher, Ivan Galamian.

In 1984 he was accepted as a scholarship student with the renowned violin pedagogue, Dorothy DeLay. While attending the Aspen, Colorado Music Festival from 1984-1986, Miss DeLay invited Maurice to return to Juilliard and conclude his professional studies. From 1985-1989, he worked with her in preparation for a major solo career in classical music.

* 1986 - Winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions
* 1987 - New York debut in the YCA Series of the 92nd Street "Y"
* 1987 - Kennedy Center debut in the YCA Series in Washington, D.C.
* 1990 - Chosen by MUSICAL AMERICA as one of the top ten "Young Artist of the Year"
* 1990 - Appointed Artist-in-Residence and professor of violin at Oral Roberts University, Tulsa , Oklahoma
* 1990-91 - Associate Concertmaster of the Tulsa Philharmonic
* 1992-01 - Ministry involvement with churches across America and around the world as a concert soloist and minister of the Gospel
* 1997 - Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Ministry degree from Spirit of Truth Seminary, Huntsville, Alabama, for his pioneering work in re-introducing classical music to the church body as powerful praise and worship to the Father, and for his revival ministry in the Holy Spirit as a prophet, teacher, and psalmist

A shattered childhood, pressure to succeed as a violinist, and demonic attacks on his life led to a severe emotional and psychological breakdown in the fall of 1986. Maurice was suicidal for almost a year, though he could perform almost perfectly in his concerts. After receiving prayer that broke generational curses of emotional illness and depression in late spring of 1987, he began a process of healing and restoration in which he surrendered his life and his gifts entirely to the Lord Jesus Christ. Maurice received total healing and began to give out what God has given him through many battles and many victories in the Spirit.

Dr. Maurice Sklar has appeared as soloist with many orchestras, including The Little Orchestra Society of New York at Lincoln Center, The Houston Symphony, The New Orleans Philharmonic, The Monmouth, New Jersey Symphony, The Curtis Symphony Orchestra, The University of Mexico City Orchestra, The Tulsa Philharmonic, The Galveston Symphony, The Richardson Symphony, The Bridgeton Symphony, The Baton Rouge Symphony, The Plymouth Symphony, The Memphis Symphony, The Hendersonville Symphony, and The Minneapolis Chamber Symphony. He has performed in concerts across the country in more than 40 states and abroad.