John Trydal Fredrickson

John Trydal Fredrickson was born on July 14, 1929, in Madison Wisconsin to Carl and Louise (Trydal) Fredrickson. He passed away at Oak Park Place Nakoma on Thursday, January 25, 2024. He was one of the youngest members of a close-knit Norwegian family. He began studying violin at the age of 8 at the Wisconsin School of Music. Within 10 years he won five contests and two scholarships and had appeared in numerous recitals and as a soloist with orchestras throughout the state. He was the outstanding student of violinist and conductor Marie Endres. While at the Wisconsin School of Music he met his future wife, pianist Dolores Mittler. 

From 1951 to 1953, he served in the United States Army at Fort Sam Houston where he was able to continue his musical activities as violinist with the Fourth Army Band. In 1954 he moved to Chicago to study at the American Conservatory of Music. In his first year he won the annual commencement competition to appear in Orchestra Hall as soloist with the Conservatory Orchestra. 

In 1955 he married Dolores Mittler, and they settled permanently in Chicago. He was soon appointed to the faculty at the conservatory where he kept up an active teaching and performing schedule. He also taught at Milton, Beloit and Edgewood colleges. In addition, he performed widely with other venues including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, various string quartets and orchestras, Broadway musicals and as a concert master for stage performers such as Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr.  He and his wife performed for many years as the Fredrickson Duo in the USA and abroad. 

As one music critic wrote: “Violinist John Fredrickson shows himself to be a gifted musician who simply walks onstage and plays with skill, sensitivity and authority.”

Along with his wife, he maintained strong bonds with his 5 nieces and nephews and participated in all the events of their lives. He is survived by nephews Matthew (Ruth) Carpenter of Madison, WI; Curt (Cindy) Carpenter of Aspen, CO; and nieces Stefanie (Onno) Brouwer of Cross Plains, WI; Kristen (Harlan) Baker of Portland, ME; and Melissa (Eduard) Freer of Madison, WI; and 9 grand-nieces and nephews and by a cousin Don Ross (Madison WI;) and sister-in-law Irmgard Carpenter (Madison WI.)  The family will have a private celebration of his life at a later date. 

We welcome you to share your memories here on John's tribute wall. 

Cress Center

6021 University Avenue

Madison, WI 53705