Growing up in South Minneapolis, violinist Cliff Brunzell embarked on his musical education with formal training in the public schools. But South High School did not have a jazz program, so Cliff took matters into his own hands and formed a jazz trio with fellow students, performing at pep fests and the like. Over the past 70 or so years, Cliff has continued with his love of the form, recording and performing the not-too-often-heard jazz violin. Cliff, however, is perhaps best known for his tenures in the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (now the Minnesota Orchestra) from 1948 to 1955 and with the Golden Strings, a venerable musical outfit formed in 1963 and still performing today. With the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Cliff performed in such far-flung locations as Baghdad, Iraq and Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The Golden Strings held forth in the Flame Room at the old Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis for 18 years, playing in front of celebrities and dignitaries ranging from Yogi Berra to Nat “King” Cole (who sang, impromptu, with the Strings). In addition to his playing career, Cliff has had a distinguished career as an educator. He taught in the Hopkins public schools from 1956 to 1971, where he started the orchestra program that still exists today. He has taught in a number of other settings as well. Cliff is a member of the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame, and this coming November will be inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm. Cliff has a number of recordings, including one with longtime friend Irv Williams, and continues to perform at about 175 gigs per year.