A founding member of both the famed Guarneri String Quartet and the Marlboro Trio, Michael Tree was born in Newark, New Jersey. He studied the violin with Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Following a Carnegie Hall recital debut, he appeared as a soloist on both the violin and viola with major orchestras, including those of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and his native New Jersey. As a chamber musician he has concertized throughout the world and recorded more than 80 chamber music masterpieces; prominent among them are ten piano quintets and quartets with Arthur Rubinstein. Mr. Tree serves on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, the Curtis Institute, and the University of Maryland.
Mr. Tree plays a Domenicus Busan viola, dated 1750, from Venice or Hiroshi Iisuka, Philadelphia, dated 1996.