Ilona Feher Foundation
Encyclopedia
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
committed to nurturing the artistic development of exceptional young Israeli 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....
ists. The foundation honors the late violin pedagogue Ilona Feher
Ilona Feher
Ilona Feher, Ilona Fehér , was one of the last representatives of the Central European Violin School whose greats included Joseph Joachim, Otakar Ševčík and Jenő Hubay. She was also a noted violin teacher.-Early years:Feher studied with Jenő Hubay for six years at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music...
(1901-1988) whose guidance helped shape some of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's greatest violinists, notable Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman is a world-renowned violinist, violist, and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his ongoing 45-year career has seen him perform with the world's best-known orchestras and record over 100 works...
, Shlomo Mintz
Shlomo Mintz
Shlomo Mintz is an Israeli violin virtuoso, violist and conductor. He regularly appears with orchestras and conductors on the international scene and is heard in recitals and chamber music concerts around the world.- Awards :...
, Shmuel Ashkenasi
Shmuel Ashkenasi
Shmuel Ashkenasi is an Israeli violinist and teacher.-Biography:Born in Tel Aviv on January 11, 1941, he began his musical training at the Musical Academy of Tel-Aviv studying with legendary pedagogue Ilona Feher, the teacher of such violinists as Pinchas Zuckerman and Shlomo Mintz...
, Hagai Shaham
Hagai Shaham
Hagai Shaham is an acclaimed Israeli violin virtuoso. He began studying the violin at the age of six and was the last student of the late Professor Ilona Feher...
and Ittai Shapira.
The foundation is set up to award promising young violinists grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
which may be applied towards various performing opportunities, recordings, or instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
loans.
In addition, the foundation also provides opportunities for private lessons, master class
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
es, and other intensive course
Course (education)
The very broad dictionary meaning of the word course is the act or action of moving in a path from point to point . There are multiple meanings for this word, some of which include: general line of orientation, a mode of action, part of a meal, a mode of action, and many more. This article focuses...
s in Israel and abroad.
In more than fifty years of teaching, Ilona Feher nurtured some of the finest violin virtuosi of our generation (e.g., see above). Her students have collaborated with virtually every great orchestra, gracing the world's most prestigious stages from New York's Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
to Shanghai's Grand Theater. Recordings of artists taught by Feher can be found on every major recording label. She was essentially a pioneer in Israeli cultural life, not only changing it, but also nurturing Israel's first cultural ambassadors. A Holocaust survivor, Feher felt deeply responsible for the continued welfare of young Israeli artists and dedicated her life to her students. She is fondly remembered in the music world and beyond for her determination, commitment, and strong will.
Beyond her great pedagogic
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
skills, Ilona Feher is also remembered for the great care and attention she put into each student, sometimes allowing her lessons to run over four hours, and always limiting her roster of students to a small, select number of promising Israeli talents. In keeping with Feher's commitment to quality education, the foundation pledges to focus its efforts on a limited number of violinists, particularly those transitioning into professional careers.
This involves a net of highly respected, established musicians working together to advise, foster and guide budding Ilona Feher students. These colleagues will share their experience to give artistic advice and also monitor the young violinist's career. Careful guidance is essential for any young artist. After intense training, whether privately or at music courses, slowly creating interest in the musical community through the net of musicians who have studied with Ilona Feher. Help on many fronts is needed at that point: promotional materials, recording demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
s, etc. There are not many other organization that focuses on every area that is needed to develop a top notch musical career.
The Foundation has received collaboration from top organizations such as the Jerusalem Music Center, the American Israeli Cultural Foundation, The Israeli Consulate in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, USA, the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, and the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London, among others.
The foundation was founded by Hagai Shaham
Hagai Shaham
Hagai Shaham is an acclaimed Israeli violin virtuoso. He began studying the violin at the age of six and was the last student of the late Professor Ilona Feher...
and Ittai Shapira.
Board Members:
- Nechemia Dagan, Glen RovenGlen RovenGlen Roven is an Emmy Award-winning composer, lyricist, and conductor. One of his notable compositions include a violin concerto based on the children's book The Runaway Bunny. Another notable composition is "Goodnight Moon, An Aria for Singer and Orchestra" which Lauren Flanigan performed in...
, Hagai ShahamHagai ShahamHagai Shaham is an acclaimed Israeli violin virtuoso. He began studying the violin at the age of six and was the last student of the late Professor Ilona Feher...
, Ittai Shapira, Mark SteinbergMark SteinbergMark Steinberg is a sports agent who has been representing top golfers since 1992. He is currently a Partner at Excel Sports Management where he heads the professional golf division. Established in 2002, Excel Sports Management is a full-service sports management and marketing agency representing...
.
Advisory Committee:
- Shmuel AshkenasiShmuel AshkenasiShmuel Ashkenasi is an Israeli violinist and teacher.-Biography:Born in Tel Aviv on January 11, 1941, he began his musical training at the Musical Academy of Tel-Aviv studying with legendary pedagogue Ilona Feher, the teacher of such violinists as Pinchas Zuckerman and Shlomo Mintz...
, Christopher T. Dunworth, Pamela FrankPamela FrankPamela Frank is an American violinist, equally well known as a soloist and as a proponent of chamber music.-Biography:She was born in New York City, the daughter of two pianists, Claude Frank and Lilian Kallir. She studied under Shirley Givens using the Givens Method, unlike many of her...
, Miriam Fried, Dick HymanDick HymanRichard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
, Jamie Laredo, Yoel LeviYoel LeviYoel Levi is a musician and conductor. Born in Romania, he grew up in Israel. He studied at the Tel Aviv Academy of Music, earning a Master of Arts degree with distinction. He also studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music under Mendi Rodan. Levi won the 1978 International Besançon Competition...
, Cho-Liang LinCho-Liang LinCho-Liang Lin , born in Hsinchu, Taiwan, is a Taiwanese American violinist who is renowned for his appearances as a soloist with major orchestras. "Musical America" named him its "Instrumentalist of the Year" in 2000...
, Shlomo MintzShlomo MintzShlomo Mintz is an Israeli violin virtuoso, violist and conductor. He regularly appears with orchestras and conductors on the international scene and is heard in recitals and chamber music concerts around the world.- Awards :...
, János StarkerJános StarkerJános Starker |Kingdom of Hungary]]) is a Hungarian-American cellist. Since 1958 he has taught at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he holds the title of Distinguished Professor.- Child prodigy :...
, Arnold SteinhardtArnold SteinhardtArnold Steinhardt , is an American violinist, best known as the first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet....
, Shulamit RanShulamit RanShulamit Ran is an Israeli-American composer. She moved from Israel to New York at 14, as a scholarship student at the Mannes College of Music. Her Symphony won her the Pulitzer Prize...
, Amnon Weinstein, Eric Wen.