While still in his teens, he toured as a violinist with the Adolf Busch Chamber Orchestra, but the youthful performer's mastery of the viola came to the fore when, at a few days' notice, he was asked to take over from the ailing second violist in a performance of a Mendelssohn Quintet with the Busch Quartet. His achievement was so remarkable that he was invited to join the Quartet in presenting a series of Mozart quintets at London's Wigmore Hall.
While still in his teens, he toured as a violinist with the Adolf Busch Chamber Orchestra, but his talent for viola was revealed when, unexpectedly, he took over for the sick second violist in a Mendelssohn Quintet performance with the Busch Quartet. His exceptional performance resulted in an invitation to join the Quartet and perform Mozart quintets at London's Wigmore Hall.