Judy Garf is a freelance violinist and violist born and raised in Los Angeles. She began playing the violin at the age 9 and took up the viola in college. She played both violin and viola under the baton of Maestro Mehli Mehta in the American Youth Symphony for ten years and graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree. she studied violin with Maestro Mehta, Kathleen Lenski and viola with Louis Kievman.

Judy began her career as a strolling violinist working or various bandleaders in Los Angeles. Highlights of her career include serenading President Reagan and Nancy for many New Year’s Eves at the home of Walter Annenberg in Rancho Mirage, playing for Princess Grace on her many visits to the US, playing for Oprah Winfrey’s 50th birthday party celebrations, playing for all the living first ladies at the celebratory events held on the 10th anniversary of the Betty Ford Center and providing yearly entertainment for the ACLU awards dinners held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Judy has held principal positions in symphonies in the community including the Moorpark Symphony, Westlake Village Symphony, San Fernando Valley Symphony and the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra. Judy traveled to Paris to perform at the Cathedral Sainte Chapelle with the Calabasas Chamber Orchestra. In addition to symphonic work, Judy, and opera lover, has held principal positions with the Vineyard Touring Opera, Center Stage Opera, Mission Opera and Casa Italiana.