Irving received a Master’s degree from DePauw University and an Artist Diploma at the Los Angeles Conservatory where he studied with Toscha Seidel, a student of Leopold Auer. He played viola in the Roth Quartet, in residence at UCLA, and as a member for 10 years performed concerts throughout the U.S., England, and Scotland and performed all the Beethoven String Quartets in 5 performance at New York’s Lincoln Center. He was also a member of the Lukas Foss Improvisation Ensemble. Irving taught music in the Los Angeles Unified and in the Community College Districts and retired as the college district’s Vice Chancellor for Instruction and Student Services.