Events 2010-11


Events in 2011


Tue. October 4           MSJ Faculty Concert
7 PM                     works by Beethoven and more
       Beethoven Piano Trio No. 7, Op. 97 
in B flat major, “Archduke”        

MSJ Faculty Trio and other faculties
                       
Tue. May 24         “Le Zinettiadi”- Chamber Music Night
8:30 PM                 works by Poulenc, Reinecke, Mozart, Berio, and Ives
                                    Duo Danelon-Orlandi
                                    Duo Pavan-Canali
                                    Duo Ruach

                           Salotto di Casa Mora, Legano, Italy
           
Fri. April 29               Powers Music School Faculty Concert
1 PM                           works by Beethoven and R. Strauss
                                    Jin Hee Kim, violin
                                    Jing Li, cello
                                    Jenifer Choe, piano
                                    Duo Ruach

                                    Beech Street Center
                                    266 Beech Street
                                    Belmont, MA 02478

Sat. April 16              MSJ Artists Series Recital
7:30 PM                      works by Ives, Previn, and R. Strauss
                                    Dr. Jin Hee Kim, violin
                                    Mi Yeon Han, guest pianist

            Recital Hall, College of Mount St. Joseph
            5701 Delhi Rd,
            Cincinnati, OH 45233

Sun. April 10        Chamber Concert
6:30 PM              works by Dvorak and more
  Dvorak Trio No. 4 in E minor, “Dumky”
                                    Jin Hee Kim, violin
                                    Anna Kyoung Mi Lee, cello
                                    Mi Yeon Han, piano

                                    Boston University
                                   
Sat. April 2         MSJ Faculty Trio Recital
7 PM                  works by Mendelssohn and Schoenfield
                                    Dr. Jin Hee Kim, violin
               Dr. Alice Ann O’Neil, cello
             Dr. Daniel Sachs, piano

      Recital Hall, College of Mount St. Joseph
                      5701 Delhi Rd,
                      Cincinnati, OH 45233

Fri. April 1                 MSJ Faculty Trio Recital and Masterclass
10:30 AM
                                    Stivers School for the Arts High School
                                    1313 E. 5th Street
                        Dayton, OH 45402

Thur. March 31         MSJ Faculty Trio Recital
7:30 PM                     works by Mendelssohn and Schoenfield

                                   Lebanon Presbyterian Church
                                   123 N. East Street
                                   Lebanon, OH 45036

Fri. March 25            South Shore Performing Artist Series
8 PM                          works by Berio, Mozart, and R. Strauss
                                   Duo Ruach

                                   Central Baptist Church
                                   67 Washington Street
                                   Quincy, MA 02169

Sun. February 27      Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra Concert Series
3 PM                      “Symphonic Virtuosity”
     Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
      Guest Artist, Jin Hee Kim
                                   
                                    Seton High School Performance Hall
                                    3901 Glenway Avenue
          Cincinnati, OH 45205

Wed. January 26       Wednesday Noon Concert Series 
 12PM                  at St. Paul’s Church
                   works by Na, Previn, and Ives
Duo Ruach    
The cathedral Church of St. Paul
138 Tremon Street
Boston, MA 02111   
           
Fri. January 14          CMFoNE Concert Series
8 PM                     Ives Violin Sonata No. 2
         Duo Hessed
                                   
                                    St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
                                    15 St. Paul Street
                                    Brookline, MA 02446


Events in 2010

Tue. Decmber 7          Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra, 
7PM                            sectional leading
                                    By Dr. Jin Hee Kim

Sat. October 30           College of Mount St. Joseph Faculty Trio 
7PM                           
                                   works by Mendellssohn and Chopin

Sun. October 24          Duo Ruach Recital
2PM                            Wellesley Free Library

                 works by Mozart, Ives, and Richard Strauss
                                    Jin Hee Kim, violin
                                    Mi Yeon Han, piano

Wed. September 3      Concert at the Auditorium in Gorizia, Italy
8PM                            works by Mozart, Lipizer, and J.S. Bach

Sat. August 28            Concerto Concert with Boston University 
6:30PM                       Student Orchestra
                       
                            Barber Violin Concerto, Op. 14
              Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, 1st movement
                                   
Soloist, Jin Hee Kim
                      Conductor, Tiffany Chang

Mon. May 31              ICMEC Final Round
1:30PM                       Carnegie Weil Recital Hall

Sun. May 9                 The First AM Benefit Concert
8PM                            Trio Ruach
                                   
        Clarke Piano Trio
                          Beethoven Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, Op. 1
                        Dvorak “Dumky”, Op. 90

Sat. March 27   Fundraising Concert for Haiti
7PM                at The Beautiful Korean Church
                                   
Dvorak “Dumky”, Op. 90
Trio Ruach
Jin Hee Kim, violin
Jeongwhan Janes Kim, cello
Mi Yeon Han, piano

Sun. February 28        Powers Music School Faculty Concert
2:30PM                       at All Saints Episcopal Church
                                   
                                    Brahms Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60
                                    Jin Hee Kim, violin
                                    Dimitar Petkov, viola
                                    Sarah Freiberg, cello
                                    Arun Nadgir, piano  
                                   

                                   


My teacher, Roman Totenberg







A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO POLISH VIOLINIST AND VIRTUOSO ROMAN TOTENBERG (January 1, 1911 - May 8, 2012)
By Gary Fitelberg

Today, May 8, 2012, the world lost one of the greatest Polish violinist-virtuosos whose career spanned nine decades at the tender age of only 101. He was born January 1, 1911 (1/1/11). I was hoping he would live at least to 111 or until 120 (per Jewish joke and/or wish "May you live until 120"). A remarkable man and personality.

I was blessed to know this compassionate generous kind soul. He has always been a close friend of the Fitelberg family. Making his concert debut under the baton of conductor GRZEGORZ FITELBERG at age 11 he left an indelible impression on everyone whose heart, mind and soul he touched. He also was responsible for playing the premiere of JERZY FITELBERG's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.
Once when I flew to Boston to visit Totenberg for a documentary film with respect to Grzegorz Fitelberg, the prominent Polish composer-conductor (who himself was a violinist and pedagogue), I had the unique opportunity not only to film him but receive an impromptu personal concert which is unforgettable and unique. He was also teaching and hosting a group of his illustrious students for a luncheon. Not feeling well that particular day he had no thought to cancel our appointment or his teaching engagement.

Roman Totenberg recalled Grzegorz Fitelberg candidly and humbly, "In Warsaw I often played with Gregor Fitelberg: Brahms' concerto and many other works."

His affiliation with Szymanowski, Rubenstein and Fitelberg also extended to the maestro Grzegorz Fitelberg's son Jerzy Fitelberg. He shared a story of Szymanowski and Jerzy Fitelberg together with me.

"I remember Szymanowski very well. He was very tall, elegant, handsome, and reticent, only speaking quite a bit one-to-one. In 1933 or '34 in Paris I played some of his compositions and he liked it so much that he offered to play a concert with me. We played a recital there and later went to Italy, England, and Scandinavia for about two years of concerts. I was surprised by how well he knew music. When I played a Brahms sonata or something else, he knew exactly what it was and its construction. The son of the conductor Gregor Fitelberg was composing modern music and I helped him with a work, which I brought over to Szymanowski, who said, "Jerzy knows his Stravinsky, doesn't he?"

I believe Totenberg was referring to the Canzone pour Violon et Piano by Haendel-Fitelberg. (Arrangement pour Violon par RomanTotenberg.) This was published in Paris, France by Editions Max Eschig.

On one occasion he shocked and surprised me by presenting me with a vary rare concert program from Paris, France on which he played a piece of music by Jerzy Fitelberg for violin.
Totenberg has many positive attributes and charachteristics to all those who were blessed, honored and privileged to have known him personally.

Charismatic and chaming. Genereous, Hospitable. Inspirational. Patient. These are only but a small sampling. He was a genius. His smile, sense of humor and sensitivity infected you with his warmth.

My adopted brother and good friend Polish violinist Hubert Pralitz recalls Totenberg fondly and with great reverence. "I once met Roman Totenberg in Gdansk. I was a young violinist. It was truly remarkable that he let me play his Stradivarius. This was the first and only time I ever had the opportunity to play on such a fine instrument."

One can not mention all the accomplishments and history of Roman Totenberg in the interest of limited space and time. But four are worthy of mentioning in this special tribute. Grzegorz Fitelberg was on the Jury of the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition. The recipient was Roman Totenberg (who was also a jurist later during 1977, 1981 and 1991). In 1983 he was named Artist Teacher of the Year by the American String Teachers Association. In April 2007 he was honored with the New England String Ensemble's Muses & Mentors Award for his great artistry and significant contributions to string education. In 1988 he was awarded the highest honor, the Order of Merit by the Polish Government for his life-long contributions to Polish society.

After he turned 100 he was in the hospital and a nurse came to check up on Roman Totenberg who asked her with his sense of humor "What's wrong? I am not dead yet!" Miraculously, at 101, still with a sense of humor and sharp of mind, teaching one of his thousands of students, this time at the hospital just until he passed away before his last breath was the following phenomenon that would charachterize his personality.

According to his daughter Nina Totenberg her father was still teaching when he died and had "a remarkable death" at the end of his earthly existence.

In a hospital bed in his Newton home, he listens to his student Letitia Hom playing the Brahms violin concerto. "Slow down, here," he murmurs. "Slow down."

His kidneys are shutting down. At 101 years old, the legendary violinist - a man who hung out with Stravinsky and Copland, Menuhin and Rubenstein - is finally dying. But he's still teaching. He murmurs something Hom can't hear. "What?" she says. He repeats himself, but she still can't hear. She bends over his bed, putting her ear to his mouth. Totenberg says, perfectly clearly: "The D was flat."

Nina Totenberg adds, ""He's not going to go quickly - he has work to do."

Many, too numerous to mention here, will miss the man and his personality. This man and maestro of magic and music will be missed by all who knew him.
His legacy of music lives infinitely in our hearts, minds and souls.

G-d gave us a gift.
Roman Totenberg
A man of music.
Virtuoso Violinist.

Roman Totenberg, I believe is now on special assignment, playing solo only for G-d and the angels.


BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF ROMAN TOTENBERG
Compiled by Gary Fitelberg
Here is a brief biography summarizing Roman Totenberg's early life, professional life and pedagogy.
Born in Lodz in a Jewish family, the son of Slanislava (Vinaver) and Adam Totenberg, Totenberg was a child prodigy, studied with Michalowicz in Warsaw, and made his debut at the age of eleven as soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra in 1922 under the baton of conductor Grzegorz Fitelberg. He was also awarded the gold medal at the Chopin Conservatory/Warsaw and continued his studies with Carl Flesch in Berlin, where he won the International Mendelssohn Prize in 1931 and later with George Enescu and Pierre Monteux in Paris. He made both his British debut in London and his American debut in New York in 1935.
Totenberg toured South America with Arthur Rubinstein, and gave joint recitals with Karol Szymanowski. He gave many concerts comprising the complete cycle of Beethoven sonatas and all Brandenburg concertos. His diversified repertoire included more than thirty concerti. Among the many contemporary works he introduced are the Darius Milhaud Violin Concerto No. 2, the William Schuman Concerto, and the Krzysztof Penderecki Capriccio. He also premiered Paul Hindemith's Sonata in E (1935), the Samuel Barber Concerto (new version) and the Bohuslav Martinu Sonata, as well as giving the American premiere of Arthur Honegger's Sonate for violin solo. Under the patronage of the eminent violinist Yehudi Menuhin, Roman Totenberg along with pianist Adolph Baller and cellist Gabor Rejto formed the Alma Trio in 1942-43 at Menuhin's Alma estate in California.
Totenberg appeared with numerous American orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Washington Symphonies. In Europe he performed with all major orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and the Concertgebouw. He performed with such a great conductors as Stokowski, Kubelik, Szell, Rodzinski, Fitelberg, Jochum, Rowicki, Krenz, Monteux, Wit, Steinberg and Golschmann. In recital he appeared at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in every major American and European city. He was featured with the most important music festivals of the world, notably at Salzburg's Mozarteum, the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara where he became chairman of the string department in 1947.
He gave concerts for the King of Italy (when there was a king of Italy) and for President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt when he was president.
Beside his concert activities, Totenberg held the position of Professor of Music at Boston University, where he headed the String Department from 1961 to 1978. He has also taught at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the Music Academy of the West, the Aspen School of Music, the Mannes College of Music, and at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusets,, where he was the Director from 1978-85.
The number of illustrious students is too numerous to make an account but suffice it to say, each and every major orchestra in America has at least one. Several others in Europe.
He is survived by three daughters, NPR (National Public Radio) journalist and legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg and Jill Totenberg who has a large and respected public relations firm. He was predeased by his wife Melanie (Shroder) Totenberg (1917-1996) who acted as business manager for her husband for 50 years. Also those husbands of his daughters and his numerous grandchildren who were special treasures to Totenberg. Also his huge family of disciples, proteges and students who always seek his advice.
To honor his memory and preserve his legacy of music contributions can be made to the Roman and Melanie Totenberg String Scholarship Fund which presents awards to outstanding young musicians each year. If you would like to do so you can make a tax-deductible scholarship contribution through Boston University's secure online website or by check to the BU College of Fine Arts, 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, Attn: Office of Development and Alumni Relations. For further information you can also call (617) 353-5544.