The Ilona Feher Foundation was established in 2003 as a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the artistic development of exceptional young Israeli violinists. The foundation honors the late violin pedagogue Ilona Feher (1901-1988) whose guidance helped shape some of Israel's greatest violinists, notable Pinchas Zukerman, Shlomo Mintz, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Hagai Shaham and Ittai Shapira. The foundation is set up to award promising young violinists grants which may be applied towards various performing opportunities, recordings, or instrument loans. In addition, the foundation also provides opportunities for private lessons, master classes, and other intensive courses in Israel and abroad. In more than fifty years of teaching, Ilona Feher nurtured some of the finest violin virtuosi of our generation.[attribution needed] Her students have collaborated with virtually every great orchestra, gracing the world's most prestigious stages from New York's Carnegie Hall 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.[attribution needed] 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 for her determination, commitment, and strong will.[attribution needed] Beyond her great pedagogic 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 demos, 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, USA, the Juilliard School, and the Royal College of Music in London, among others. The foundation was founded by Hagai Shaham and Ittai Shapira. Board Members:
- Nechemia Dagan, Glen Roven, Hagai Shaham, Ittai Shapira, Mark Steinberg.
Advisory Committee:
- Shmuel Ashkenasi, Christopher T. Dunworth, Pamela Frank, Miriam Fried, Dick Hyman, Jamie Laredo, Yoel Levi, Cho-Liang Lin, Shlomo Mintz, János Starker, Arnold Steinhardt, Shulamit Ran, Amnon Weinstein, Eric Wen.
References
- Dr. Samuel Appelbaum, Dr. Mark Zilberquit, Henry Roth, The way they play - Ilona Feher - Book 11, pp. 47-97, Paganinia Publications, Inc., 1983, ISBN 0-87666-799-X
- Ron Ephrat, Ilona Feher - In memoriam article in The Strad, special edition dedicated to Heifetz (1988).
