Ernest Bloch spent his youth studying violin in his hometown of Geneva, but his principle training took place in Frankfurt with Iwan Knorr, who was one of his greatest musical influences.

Bloch is especially noted for his ability to compose deeply moving and emotional music for strings, such as "A Voice in the Wilderness." After a successful premier at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Bloch settled in the United States in 1917.

In addition to assuming the directorship of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he also taught at the University of California at Berkeley.