Mads Tolling

Violin

Book Mads Tolling for a groupmuse
San Francisco, CA
15 Played at 15 groupmuses!

Mads Tolling

Violin

About

MADS TOLLING is an internationally renowned violinist and composer originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, now living in San Francisco. As a former nine-year member of both bassist Stanley Clarke’s band and the celebrated Turtle Island Quartet, Mads won two Grammy Awards, and he was nominated for a third Grammy in 2015. Recently, he was the 2016 winner of the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Violin Award.

Mads has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, and his recordings have received rave reviews in Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Strings Magazine and DownBeat Magazine. Mads has performed for Danish royalty – Prince Frederik & Princess Mary – at the celebration of The Danish Embassy’s 50-year Anniversary.

Mads has twice been commissioned to write violin concertos – for Oakland Symphony and Pacific Chamber Orchestra. He has performed his symphonic works around the US and Japan.
Mads now leads his own groups - Mads Tolling Quartet and Mads Tolling & The Mads Men.

  • "It was outstanding to listen to, and talk with, Mads Tolling in an intimate setting. We had seen him before in larger venues."

    - Lauri F., past guest at Evening concert w violinist Mads Tolling

  • "Madds is truly a one man show. He creates music just with his violin in a way that sounds like many instruments. His music is amazing and beautiful. Definitely a show you don’t want to miss. Outstanding!"

    - Barbara D., past guest at A One-Man String Symphony by Mads Tolling

  • "Mads is an extraordinary musician. His musicianship and technical facility combine to create a magical experience. The backyard setting was perfect. We enjoyed it enormously."

    - Kim B., past guest at A One-Man String Symphony by Mads Tolling

  • "There are no words to describe Mads Tolling's virtuosity and creativity. He is truly one of the best--accomplished, great humor, personable, he always surprises with the newness of the pieces he pays. A true pro and then some!!"

    - Monica S., past guest at A One-Man String Symphony by Mads Tolling

Music

Jazz, latin, pop, classical.

Videos

Audio

After You've Gone

Blue in Green

Programs

Host one of these programs in your space!

Past groupmuses (15)

  • Mads Tolling

    Friday, Aug 21, 2026 7:30 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Capitol Hill Seattle
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller
    • Instruments: Violin with looper
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

    Happened 11 days ago

  • Patio

    A One-Man String Symphony by Mads Tolling

    Saturday, Aug 15, 2026 2:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Castro Valley
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller
    • Instruments: Violin with looper and effects pedals
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $30+ at event

    Happened 17 days ago

  • Backyard

    Music Greats, Reider and Tolling, in a Garden with a View

    Sunday, Jun 14, 2026 2:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Parnassus Heights, SF
    • Instruments: Accordion + Violin
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $40+ at event

    Happened 3 months ago

  • Salon

    Mads Tolling and Ian Scarfe at the Century Club! 🥂 🎻 🎹

    Sunday, Nov 16, 2025 2:00 PM PST

    • Neighborhood: Cathedral Hill, SF
    • Composers: Grieg, Dvorak, Gershwin, Tolling
    • Instruments: Violin and Piano
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $25+ at event

    Happened 10 months ago

  • Backyard

    Grammy Award winning violinist Mads Tolling

    Sunday, Nov 2, 2025 2:00 PM PST

    • Neighborhood: Castro Valley
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller
    • Instruments: Violin with looper
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $30+ at event

    Happened 10 months ago

  • Backyard

    Grammy award winner Mads Tolling plays an exciting concert in our garden.

    Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 4:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Small private garden free parking , Kentfield, Kentfield
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $30+ at event

    Happened 11 months ago

  • Backyard

    Grammy-Winning Violinist Mads Tolling in the Garden

    Sunday, May 18, 2025 2:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Castro Valley
    • Instruments: Violin and Guitar
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $30+ at event

    Happened over 1 year ago

  • Salon

    Evening concert w violinist Mads Tolling

    Sunday, Mar 30, 2025 3:30 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Adjacent to College of Marin
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller
    • Instruments: Violin with looper
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $25+ at event

    Happened over 1 year ago

  • Living room

    Relaxing afternoon with two-time Grammy winning violinist Mads Tolling

    Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 2:00 PM PST

    • Neighborhood: Castro Valley
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller
    • Instruments: Violin with looper
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $30+ at event

    Happened almost 2 years ago

  • Living room

    Presidio Groupmuse: Sunday in the Park with Mads 🎻

    Sunday, Aug 4, 2024 2:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Presidio of San Francisco, SF
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller, JL Ponty
    • Instruments: Violin with looper and effects pedals
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $25+ at event

    Happened about 2 years ago

  • Massivemuse Warehouse

    Transatlantic Jazz Fusion 🎶 feat. Grammy winner Mads Tolling

    Friday, May 10, 2024 7:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Soma, SF
    • Composers: Kim Larsen, Jacob Gade, Mads Tolling
    • Instruments: Harp, Piano trio, Piano/Violin duo
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

    Happened over 2 years ago

  • Salon

    Mads Tolling 🎻 and Ian Scarfe 🎹 in a historic clubhouse 🥂

    Sunday, Nov 12, 2023 2:00 PM PST

    • Neighborhood: Cathedral Hill, SF
    • Instruments: Violin + Piano
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $25+ at event

    Happened almost 3 years ago

  • Outdoors

    Music with Mads

    Friday, Jun 2, 2023 6:00 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Piedmont Pines, Oakland
    • Composers: Astor Piazzolla, Fats Waller
    • Instruments: Violin with looper
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $10+ at event

    Happened about 3 years ago

  • Cinco de Mayo with Mads Tolling

    Sunday, May 5, 2019 4:30 PM PDT

    • Neighborhood: Albany Hill
    • Composers: Mads Tolling, Astor Piazzolla
    • Instruments: Violin
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

    Happened over 7 years ago

  • A Very Special Violin on Albany Hill

    Sunday, Mar 3, 2019 4:30 PM PST

    • Neighborhood: Albany Hill
    • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

    Happened over 7 years ago