North America
The Stradivari Society® Inspires and Supports Emerging Artists
The vibrant city of Chicago is both birthplace and headquarters for the Society and the nexus of all of our wide-ranging activities at home and around the world.
Accolades and Special Events
Geoffrey Fushi Day
Geoffrey Fushi's support of young artists through the Society was honored when both Mayor Richard M. Daley and Governor Jim Edgar declared April 29, 1995, to be Mr. Geoffrey Fushi Day in the city of Chicago and statewide as well, honoring his support of young artists through The Stradivari Society®.
The Library of Congress Honors Stradivari
To mark the anniversary of Antonio Stradivari's death, the Society was invited to present a lecture-demonstration at the Library of Congress in December 1998. Geoffrey Fushi discussed the many characteristics and tonal qualities of Stradivari's instruments and the great mystery surrounding his work. Violinist and recipient Janice Martin illustrated with musical examples, performing on the "Burstein, Bagshawe" Stradivari violin of 1708.
Sandra Day O'Connor Hosts a Concert at the Supreme Court
Sandra Day O'Connor, recipient Janice Martin, pianist Steve Beck, Geoffrey Fushi, and patron Joseph Burstein (seated)
The Stradivari Society® and patron Joseph Burstein sponsored a recital and reception at the Supreme Court on April 10, 2000, hosted by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The atmosphere was steeped in history as recipient Janice Martin, playing the "Burstein, Bagshawe" Stradivari, dazzled the audience in the elegant East Conference Room with works by Beethoven, Debussy, Ysaÿe, Gershwin, Rachmaninov, and Sarasate. She was accompanied by pianist Steve Beck, who played on a piano selected and inscribed by Leonard Bernstein. In the audience were Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her husband Professor Martin Ginsburg, and Dr. William R. Sloan.
Geoffrey Fushi and Vadim Gluzman Are Chicago's Cultural Ambassadors at Moscow Festival
Moscow experienced the best of the arts in Chicago thanks to the Sister Cities International, sponsored "Chicago Days in Moscow Festival" in 2001. The week-long event featured the finest in Chicago theatre, film, music, and cuisine and even included a rally of classic American cars. The Society was chosen by the City of Chicago to be one of the participants, and Geoffrey Fushi was invited to represent the organization at this prestigious international festival. Fushi organized two recitals featuring violinist and recipient Vadim Gluzman.
The beautiful residence of the U.S. Ambassador, Spaso House, was the venue for the first concert. This elegant, ornate mansion has been the home of American ambassadors in Moscow since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the former Soviet Union in 1933. Gluzman, accompanied by his wife Angela, performed a program of short salon pieces by Brahms, Bloch, Sarasate, and Kreisler. Ambassador to Russia James Collins was in the audience for this very special event. The next day, the Gluzmans gave a recital at the Helikon Opera Theater, performing sonatas by Mozart and Franck as well as works by Brahms, Bloch, Bartók, and Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
Major Motion Picture "Together" Pairs Li Chuanyun and The Stradivari Society®
After the Chicago premiere of Together in Bein & Fushi's Great Room: recipient Li Chuanyun, Li Ling, Geoffrey Fushi, Producer David Franco, Director Chen Kiage, and recipient Vadim Gluzman
When David Franco, music producer of "Together," directed by the legendary Chen Kiage, approached Geoffrey Fushi about providing an instrument for live performances at the film's premieres in Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, and Chicago, no one had any inkling of where this collaboration might lead. But the multi-city U.S. opening brought the brilliant Chinese violinist Li Chuanyun and the Society together as well. Just two months later, the extraordinarily gifted artist was awarded a violin by G.B. Guadagnini, Turin c 1784 from patron Gary Koslowski.
International Competition Winners
The Stradivari Society® artists have taken top prizes in all of the major international competitions. American violinist Jennifer Koh was a prize winner in the 1994 Tchaikovsky Competition and also received the 1995 Avery Fischer Award. The Ukraine-born, Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman received the Szeryng Foundation Career Award in 1994. Rumanian violinist Irina Muresanu was a prize winner at the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels in 1997. Ilya Gringolts was the first prize winner of the Paganini Competition in 1998. Violinist Rachel Barton of the United States has been a prize winner in the prestigious Paganini Competition. Greece's Leonidas Kavakos and Japan's Kyoko Takezawa took top honors at The Indianapolis International Competition. In 1998 recipient Soovin Kim took the top prize in the Szeryng Competition. Spanish violinist Leticia Muñoz won the Szeryng competition in 2000. Chen Xi won second place in the 2002 Tchaikovsky Competition.
Geoffrey Fushi Gives Lecture Demonstrations
Geoffrey Fushi has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the Society®, its mission, and the instrumental masterworks of the great Italian violinmakers. He has presented lecture demonstrations at prestigious venues around the country, including the International Indianapolis Violin Competition, World Literacy Crusade Awards Dinner and Gala benefit, and Harvard Club, among many others.
Recitals and Master Classes
Pinchas Zukerman with master class participants Margot Schwartz, Jonathan Miron, and recipient Emily Hyun.
In 1990 The Stradivari Society® began presenting a series of recitals each season in Chicago to give further support to its artist-recipients. Recitals featuring Society artists, including Kyoko Takezawa, Maxim Vengerov, Vadim Repin, and Eunice Lee, have been held in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Beijing, London, Tokyo, and other important international music centers.
The Stradivari Society® regularly presents master classes giving young musicians the opportunity to benefit from instruction by distinguished teachers in the elegant Great Room at Bein & Fushi as well as in the music capitals of the world. Among the artists who have graciously shared their expertise are Salvatore Accardo, Yehuda Hanani, Alan Harris, Sidney Harth, Ko Iwasaki, Wolfgang Laufer, Donald McInnes, Vadim Repin, Ruggiero Ricci, Aaron Rosand, Kurt Sassmanshaus, Abram Shtern, Joseph Silverstein, Tsubara Tsutsumi, Donald Weilerstein, Truls Mørk, and Pinchas Zukerman. A selection of these master classes are available on DVD from Bein & Fushi