On This Day: June 30, 2010
A Twelve-Year Old Takes The Stage
Welcome to Heifetz 2026! This summer, as we celebrate three decades of transformative education, extraordinary artistry, and the community that has made Heifetz possible, each day we’ll be sharing audio, video, images, and programs from across the decades of the Institute. Check back each day throughout our 30th Anniversary Season as we share some memorable moments from each golden year of the Institute!
June 30, 2010: Wolfeboro, NH
In January of 2026, Korean violinist Hyun Jae Lin made a triumphant return to the stage, winning the 2026 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition, after winning the Seoul International Competition in 2025. It capped a remarkable comeback for the 28-year old violinist, who has come back from a life-threatening automobile accident in 2020. “I was in the hospital for two years,” Hyun Jae told violinist.com author Laurie Niles. “I was damaged so much. I have a spinal cord injury, but it was not just my spine. I had to have six surgeries and procedures, and also rehab.” Read the full article about Hyun Jae’s long road back here.
Long before that, Hyun Jae’s early years included a summer at Heifetz, Two years after her 2010 arrival at Heifetz, Hannah would be at the Curtis Institute of Music studying with legends Arnold Steinhardt and (Heifetz faculty member) Shmuel Ashkenasi. And then appearing as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Houston Symphony. And then being a top prizewinner at the prestigious Menuhin Competition.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Check out young Hannah’s charm and cool as she introduces and then dazzles with the first movement of the challenging Violin Concerto in E minor by Russian composer Julius Conus, with the redoubtable Heifetz pianist Dina Vainshtein by her side. Oh, and by the way…her teacher back in those days? None other than Dorothy Kitchen, mom of our Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen!
HyunJae Lim at the January 2026 Elmar Oliveira Competition – a prizewinner on three continents!
Stay Connected!
Did you attend the Heifetz Institute? If so, you’re part of an exclusive group of musicians who have explored their full creative potential through the advanced private lessons, unrivaled concert appearances, and the unique Performance & Communication Training method. We believe that the one-of-a-kind Heifetz training prepares our students to become not only more effective communicators and performers, but also more confident and dynamic in all facets of life. Now we want to reconnect and hear more about how you’ve put your Heifetz experience to use – both on and off stage!
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