In his youth, Mr. Chaplan studied violin in Los Angeles with Ben Berzinsky, a previous member of the New York Philharmonic and teacher of Albert Einstein. He joined the California Jr. Symphony in 1959 where he remained a member for 9 years.
He attended UCLA for 3½ years, studying violin and chamber music with Stanley Plummer. He then moved to New York City where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the City University of New York. His Master of Education degree is from UMASS Boston.
Mr. Chaplan has studied and performed with John Lewis, Joel Lester, Tiny Grimes, and Albert Hirsh. He played as a freelance violinist in New York for 18 years, working with various symphonies, pit orchestras, rock bands, and jazz bands.
In 1989, Mr. Chaplan moved to Cape Cod and joined the Cape Symphony, the Plymouth Philharmonic, and the Woods Hole Choral Society.
