Oliver Colbentson was born in Chicago. He received his first violin instruction at age five from his father. At age fourteen he entered the Chicago Musical College to study with Leon Sametini, and at sixteen won a competition and appeared as soloist with Orchestra in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. Later the same year Colbentson began his studies at the University of Chicago, earning a bachelor’s degree, followed by three years in the U.S. Air Force Orchestra. He resumed his music studies in New York with the noted pedagogue, Diran Alexanian, and gave concerts in both Times Hall and Town Hall. At age 26 he became Associate Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and for the following four years alternated between the Metropolitan season and annual tours in Europe, with concerts and broadcasts in Scandinavia, Holland, Austria, Germany, England, France, Italy, and Switzerland. After taking up residence in Europe he performed as Concertmaster and Soloist with the Nürnberger Symphoniker in Nürnberg, Germany. In 1962 he became head of the String Department of the Meistersinger Conservatory (Musik-Hochschule), Nürnberg. He performed more than 1500 concerts and broadcasts in 29 countries, and recorded 19 CDs. (Recordings: Musical Masterpiece Society, Concert Hall Society, Colosseum, MGM, Sonopress, Ampex, Zafiro, Vienna Sound, and others).