Eleonore Schoenfeld
Encyclopedia
Eleonore Schoenfeld is considered one of the most influential cellists of the 20th century.
, Slovenia
to a Polish
father and a Russian
mother, Schoenfeld moved to Berlin
with her family at age six. She proceeded to study ballet
, violin
, and piano
before switching to cello at age eleven. Her first teacher was Karl Niedermeyer, a pupil of Hugo Becker
, with whom she studied until age fourteen. From there she entered the prestigious Hochschule für Musik
in Berlin - eighteen being the traditional age of entry. She then spent the next four years studying with Adolf Steiner, a well-known soloist.
In 1952, Schoenfeld's parents, weary of the Russia
n dictatorship, led the Schoenfeld family to flee to the United States
. From there, a connection from the Idyllwild Arts Academy led the then-dean of the USC Thornton School of Music
to ask her, and her sister Alice, a concert violinist, to join the faculty. They remained there since, serving alongside Gregor Piatigorsky
, Jascha Heifetz
, and many other distinguished musicians.
Through the span of her career, Schoenfeld produced over 200 recordings, recorded by the BBC
. Her students have also become top prizewinners in competitions such as Geneva
, the Casals Competition (Budapest
), Tchaikovsky (Russia
), Markneukirchen
(Germany
) and the Concert Artist Guild (U.S.). Her students have also performed repeatedly as soloists with the New York Philharmonic
, Los Angeles Philharmonic
, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
, Georgian Chamber Orchestra (former Soviet republic of Georgia
), and Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
(Germany
) with such eminent conductors as Zubin Mehta
, Horst Stein
, Esa-Pekka Salonen
, Gerard Schwarz
and Carl St. Clair.
In 2008 PBS made an hour long documentary titled "Born to Teach" about Eleonore Schoenfeld's life.
Biography
Born in MariborMaribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
to a Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
father and a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
mother, Schoenfeld moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
with her family at age six. She proceeded to study ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
before switching to cello at age eleven. Her first teacher was Karl Niedermeyer, a pupil of Hugo Becker
Hugo Becker
for french actor see Hugo BeckerHugo Becker was a prominent German cellist, cello teacher, and composer. He studied at a young age with Alfredo Piatti, and later Friedrich Grützmacher in Dresden.He was born in 1863 in Strasbourg; his father Jean Becker was a famous violinist...
, with whom she studied until age fourteen. From there she entered the prestigious Hochschule für Musik
Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler
The " in Berlin, Germany is one of the leading music conservatories in Europe. It was established in East Berlin in 1950 as the ' because the older was in West Berlin...
in Berlin - eighteen being the traditional age of entry. She then spent the next four years studying with Adolf Steiner, a well-known soloist.
In 1952, Schoenfeld's parents, weary of the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n dictatorship, led the Schoenfeld family to flee to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. From there, a connection from the Idyllwild Arts Academy led the then-dean of the USC Thornton School of Music
USC Thornton School of Music
The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, founded in 1884 and dedicated in 1999, is one of the premier music schools in the United States...
to ask her, and her sister Alice, a concert violinist, to join the faculty. They remained there since, serving alongside Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky was a Russian-born American cellist.-Early life:...
, Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
, and many other distinguished musicians.
Through the span of her career, Schoenfeld produced over 200 recordings, recorded by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Her students have also become top prizewinners in competitions such as Geneva
Geneva International Music Competition
The Geneva International Music Competition is a music competitions held in Geneva, founded in 1939 in the Geneva Conservatory for a wide variety of instruments, voice, conducting, and chamber music.-See also:* List of classical music competitions* World Federation of International Music...
, the Casals Competition (Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
), Tchaikovsky (Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
), Markneukirchen
Markneukirchen
Markneukirchen is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It lies in between the Erzgebirge and the Fichtelgebirge in the Elstergebirge, southeast of Plauen, and northeast of Asch ....
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) and the Concert Artist Guild (U.S.). Her students have also performed repeatedly as soloists with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is a 40-member American chamber orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, considered by music critic Jim Svejda as "America's finest chamber orchestra".-History:...
, Georgian Chamber Orchestra (former Soviet republic of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
), and Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
The Bamberg Symphony is a German orchestra based in Bamberg and well known for its artistic excellence and frequent international touring...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) with such eminent conductors as Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Horst Stein
Horst Stein
Horst Walter Stein was a German conductor.- Biography :...
, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Esa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is currently Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.-Early career:...
, Gerard Schwarz
Gerard Schwarz
Gerard Schwarz is an American conductor. He was music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 2011.In 2007 Schwarz was named music director of the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, having served as principal conductor since 2005...
and Carl St. Clair.
In 2008 PBS made an hour long documentary titled "Born to Teach" about Eleonore Schoenfeld's life.
Awards
- USC Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2004
- USC Ramo Music Faculty Award
- Indiana University Grand Dame du Violoncelle Eva Janzer Memorial Award
- American String Teachers AssociationAmerican String Teachers AssociationThe American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
National Distinguished Service Award - Music Teachers National Association Lifetime Achievement Award