The Heifetz 25-Year Advent Calendar
Day 10: 1996 - Back to Where It All Began!
Aug. 9, 1996: Howard County, MD
How true has the Heifetz Institute been to its slogan of “Communicate – Engage – Inspire?” The proof is in the production, you might say! We don’t have a lot of performance footage to share with you from the Institute’s first formal year of operation (for two years prior, an informal “Heifetz summer Institute for Violinists” had been literally been run out of Founder Daniel Heifetz’ basement), but we do have a fascinating feature on the Heifetz Institute that ran on the public-television series Inside Maryland. See for yourself the Institute in action from a quarter-century ago…and how closely the mission, vision, and activities align with the Heifetz Institute of 2021.
Along with way, you’ll see interviews with some of the earliest students of the Institute….including violinists Matthew Thorpe (a member of the São Paulo Symphony and founder of the São Paulo Chamber Soloists in Brazil), Valerie Clemans (an elementary string school teacher in Massachusetts), Matthew Horwitz-Lee (pursuing regenerative farm life in Maine), and Fidel Marchena, who moved from the first violin section of the Vienna Symphony to becoming a Professor of Violin at the Emil Friedman Conservatory of Music in Caracas, Venezuela.
Four fascinating careers from the first year of the Institute! Matthew Thorpe recalls, “I have amazing memories of the Mr. Heifetz and the institute, I use things I learned back then everyday! We stayed with host families in the area, and since Mr. Heifetz gave me a scholarship, I was in charge of driving to everyone’s host house, picking them up each morning, and taking them to Howard Community College. And since I had been studying with Mr. Heifetz for a few years, I would help some of the newbies with the ‘Heifetz technique.’
“We called the Institute “boot camp” among ourselves. But they were wonderful, intense summers with lots of learning and musical sharing. Great memories! I’ve been keeping up with the institute over the years, and have been excited to see how it has grown, and also branched out in such a positive way! Mr. Heifetz always preached to us that musical performance is all about “communication” and stressed the importance of the extra musical elements as well. I love how the Heifetz Institute has incorporated so many additional elements over the years, in order to help gifted young instrumentalists become effective communicators and well rounded artists.”
One of the very first Heifetz Institute concert programs!
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!
Fast Away The Old Year Passes! The Heifetz Institute has been in the business of helping brilliant young talents blossom for 25 years now, the last two of which have required us to work even harder, smarter, and better to pursue our trailblazing mission. As you consider your year-end giving, please consider supporting our mission to enable the world’s most promising young musical talents to realize their artistic and communicative potential.