Biography
Violinist and composer Ann Fontanella is one of the last protégés of the Old Russian School style of violin play and pedagogy passed down by great virtuosos for more than 150 years. Instrumentalists in the Old Russian style, notably the great Jascha Heifetz, achieve a warm, rich romantic tone with exacting precision that allows you to hear each note clearly even when they play at tremendous speed. (Article about Heifetz.)
She started playing the violin very early. After working with Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Robert DePasquale, she began studying at age 7 with Sherry Kloss, who had been Heifetz’s teaching assistant. She debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra at 10 and began formal study of composition at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. For five years she was the protégé and final student of Erick Friedman of the Yale School of Music. Friedman had been Heifetz’s own protégé and the only violinist with whom Heifetz played on equal footing in recordings.
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