Philippe Hirschhorn
Philippe Hirschhorn (1946 – 26 November 1996) was a violinist who won the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in 1967 (the year in which Gidon Kremer won the third prize). Born in Riga, Latvia, he first studied at the conservatory of Riga with Prof. Waldemar Sturestep, later he studied with prof Michael Waiman at the Conservatoire of St. Petersburg (Then still called Leningrad). He played concerts all over the world (Europe, America and Japan) with the most prestigious orchestras conducted by amongst others Herbert von Karajan. He played together with Elisabeth Leonskaya, Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Zino Vinnikov, Hans Mannes and Brigitte Engerer. Although being one of the most gifted violinists ever, he did not gain worldwide attention. The rare recordings that exist of him playing are examples of his technical and musical abilities. He died in 1996 in Brussels at the age of fifty, from a brain tumor. He was the teacher of many excellent violinists who dedicated their working life to performing and teaching, among others Philippe Graffin, Cornelia Angerhofer, Evert Sillem, Janine Jansen, Yoris Jarzynski, Marie-Pierre Vendôme and many others.