Zakhar Bron

{{Short description|Russian violinist (born 1947)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Family name hatnote|Nukhimovich|Bron|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Zakhar Bron | native_name = {{Nobold|Захар Брон}} | native_name_lang = ru | image = БРОН Захар Нухимович (cropped).jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = Bron in 2016 | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|12|17|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Oral, Kazakhstan|Oral]], [[Kazakh SSR]], [[Soviet Union]] | origin = | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = [[Classical music|Classical]] | occupation = [[Violin]]ist | years_active =  | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|https://www.zakharbronchamber.com/|zakharbronchamber.com}} (in German) }} '''Zakhar Nukhimovich Bron''' ({{Lang-rus|Захар Нухимович Брон|3=zɐxˈar ˈbron}}; born 17 December 1947) is a Russian [[violin]]ist and renowned pedagogue. He has been living in Western Europe since 1989.<ref name=Blech>{{cite news|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/berlin-kultur/article137021492/Zakhar-Bron-der-grosse-Virtuosenmacher-in-der-Geigenwelt.html|access-date=28 June 2024|title=Zakhar Bron – der große Virtuosenmacher in der Geigenwelt|language=de|author=Volker Blech|newspaper=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]|date=2 February 2015}}</ref>

== Early life == Bron was born in [[Oral, Kazakhstan]], to a Jewish family. His father, Nukhim Zalmanovich Bron, a Polish pianist, and his mother, a Romanian engineering student, fled to the Soviet Union in the 1930s to escape the Nazis and were evacuated with a defence factory from Romanovka, Bessarabia, to Oral during the Great Patriotic War. His first music teacher in his hometown recognized his talent and advised him to attend the [[School of Stolyarsky|Stolyarsky School]] in Ukrainian Odessa, at the time one of the best violin schools in the USSR, where he lived with a host family and studied under pedagogue Artur Zisserman.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Хасин Аба. Музсловарь. Часть 1 |url=https://samlib.ru/h/hasin_a/muzslovar-1.shtml |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=samlib.ru}}</ref>

== Education == Bron began his formal violin training at the Stolyarsky School in Odessa under Artur Zisserman. He later moved with his father to Moscow, where [[Boris Goldstein]] enrolled him in his violin class at the [[Gnessin State Musical College|Gnessin Conservatoire]] and provided private lessons. In 1966, Bron became a student of [[Igor Oistrakh]] at the [[Moscow Conservatory|Tchaikovsky Conservatory]]. After completing his master's studies in 1971, he remained at the conservatory for his post-master's, though this was interrupted by mandatory military service in the Red Army.<ref name=":0" />

== Performing career == As a violinist, Bron achieved recognition in international competitions. In 1971, he was a laureate (12th prize) at the [[Queen Elisabeth Competition]] in Brussels. In 1977, he shared the 3rd prize with American violinist Peter Zazofsky at [[Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition|International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition]] in Poland.<ref name="Blech" /><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2022-02-12 |archive-date=2019-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712175201/http://www.cmireb.be/concours2/documents/palmares1937201319863.pdf |date=2013-06-25 |format=PDF; 359 kB|page=19 |publisher=Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique asbl |title=Queen Elisabeth Competition 1937–2013: Violine, Piano, Voice, Composition |url=http://www.cmireb.be/concours2/documents/palmares1937201319863.pdf |website=Concours Reine Elisabeth}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=7th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition |url=https://www.wieniawski.com/7ivc.html |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.wieniawski.com}}</ref><ref name="Lebrecht">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/06/you-vote-for-my-pupil-ill-vote-for-yours-the-truth-about-music-competitions/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623212821/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/06/you-vote-for-my-pupil-ill-vote-for-yours-the-truth-about-music-competitions/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 June 2018|title=You vote for my pupil, I'll vote for yours – the truth about music competitions|last=Lebrecht|first=Norman|author-link=Norman Lebrecht|date=23 June 2018|magazine=[[The Spectator]]|access-date=23 June 2018}}</ref>

== Teaching career == Bron's primary achievements are tied to his pedagogical work, which began in 1974 at the [[Novosibirsk Conservatory]], where he taught before gaining recognition. His early students included [[Daniel Hope]]<ref>{{cite book|quote=Being educated by the phenomenal Zakhar Bron is equivalent to winning the lottery|author=[[Daniel Hope]]|title=Wann darf ich klatschen|year=2009|page=148|publisher=Rowohlt|isbn=978-3-498-00665-5}}</ref> and Vadim Repin.<ref>Mari Silje Samuelsen [http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/Strings85/CoverStory.shtml "All Things Strings: Cover Story"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202071637/http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/Strings85/CoverStory.shtml |date=2 December 2005 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.middlebury.edu/arts/newspub/news_archive/fall_2004_newsletter/article2.htm "Inaugural Concert Announced"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051121114215/http://www.middlebury.edu/arts/newspub/news_archive/fall_2004_newsletter/article2.htm |date=21 November 2005 }}</ref> In 1989, Bron moved with his family and students—Vadim Repin, [[Maxim Vengerov]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calendar {{!}} Kennedy Center |url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/calendar/?fuseaction=showIndividual&entity_id=5030&source_type=A |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Kennedy Center |language=en}}</ref> [[Nikolay Madoyan]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Violinist Nikolay Madoyan: redefining boundaries |url=https://www.thestrad.com/playing-hub/violinist-nikolay-madoyan-redefining-boundaries/19726.article |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=The Strad |language=en}}</ref> and Natalia Prischepenko—to Lübeck, Germany, where he became a professor at the [[Lübeck Academy of Music]]. There, he also taught [[Vadim Gluzman]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vadim Gluzman: Life Lessons |url=https://www.thestrad.com/for-subscribers/vadim-gluzman-life-lessons/14865.article |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=The Strad |language=en}}</ref> and [[David Garrett]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fascinating works by David Garrett |url=https://www.stage-plus.com/artist/artist_85P78QBJEHFJ2D1H60 |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=STAGE+ |language=en}}</ref> Other notable students from his teaching career include [[Gwendolyn Masin]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-26 |title=Ep 24: The Exhale with Gwendolyn Masin |url=https://musicmindandmovement.com/podcast-2/ep-24-the-exhale-with-gwendolyn-masin |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Music, Mind, and Movement |language=en-US |archive-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209090458/https://musicmindandmovement.com/podcast-2/ep-24-the-exhale-with-gwendolyn-masin |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Mari Samuelsen|Mari Silje Samuelsen]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lagbayi |first=Kayode |date=2020-12-18 |title=Mari Samuelsen - Norwegian Violin Virtuoso |url=https://phamoxmusic.com/mari-samuelsen-biography/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Phamox Music |language=en-US}}</ref> Priya Mitchell,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Esiintyjät {{!}} Tampere Chamber Music {{!}} Priya Mitchell |url=https://www.tamperechambermusic.com/priya-mitchell?lang=en |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=TampereChamberMusic |language=en}}</ref> [[Igor Malinovsky]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Busse |first=Holger |title=Artist page: Igor Malinovsky, Violin |url=https://www.genuinclassics.com/_new/artist_1.php?k=524 |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=www.genuinclassics.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Alexandre Da Costa]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Violinist Alexandre Da Costa wins $25,000 Virginia Parker Prize |url=https://www.thestrad.com/violinist-alexandre-da-costa-wins-25000-virginia-parker-prize/5923.article |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=The Strad |language=en}}</ref> Denis Goldfeld,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denis Goldfeld |url=https://musikland.sonoro.org/en/artisti/denis-goldfeld/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Sonoro MusikLand |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Daishin Kashimoto]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daishin Kashimoto |url=https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/about-us/orchestra/musicians/daishin-kashimoto/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=www.berliner-philharmoniker.de |language=en}}</ref> [[Tamaki Kawakubo]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasles |first=Chris |date=2000-09-04 |title=A Violin Prodigy Who Venerates Masters |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-04-me-15270-story.html |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Mayuko Kamio]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Violin: Mayuko Kamio {{!}} [Official] New Japan Philharmonic |url=https://www.njp.or.jp/en/about/guest/9327/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |language=en}}</ref> Mayu Kishima,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayu Kishima |url=https://queenelisabethcompetition.be/en/laureates/mayu-kishima/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=queenelisabethcompetition.be |language=fr}}</ref> [[Soyoung Yoon]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soyoung Yoon |url=https://www.wieniawski.com/yoon_so-young.html |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=www.wieniawski.com}}</ref> Christoph Seybold,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://christophseybold.com/en/biography.shtml |title="Christoph Seybold, Biography" |access-date=19 June 2014 |archive-date=17 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817215312/http://www.christophseybold.com/en/biography.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Sayaka Shoji]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=CHANNEL |first=THE VIOLIN |date=2019-01-30 |title=Today is Japanese Violinist Sayaka Shoji's 36th Birthday! [ON-THIS-DAY] |url=https://theviolinchannel.com/violinist-sayaka-shoji-birthday-born-on-this-day/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=World's Leading Classical Music Platform |language=en-US}}</ref>, [[Gia Jashvili]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gia JASHVILI |url=https://www.linafoundation.hk/a-gia-jashvili |website=Lina Foundation |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>, Hadar Rimon,<ref>{{Cite web |last=dataloftadmin |date=2015-01-22 |title=Rimon Hadar, Violine |url=https://www.herbst-helferei.ch/kuenstler-2009/rimon-hadar/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Herbst in der Helferei |language=de}}</ref> [[Leia Zhu]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-26 |title=12-Year-Old Violinist Leia Zhu to Join London's Harrison Parrott Management Roster |url=https://www.theviolinchannel.com/violinist-leia-zhu-join-harrison-parrott-management-roster-london/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=theviolinchannel.com}}</ref> and Ellinor D'Melon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ellinor d’Melon |url=https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/orchestra/violin/ellinor_d_melon/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=www.mariinsky.ru}}</ref>

Bron has held professorships at several prestigious institutions, including the [[Royal Academy of Music]] in London,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wieniawski.pl/zakhar_bron_eng.html|title=Zakhar Bron|publisher=Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznan|access-date=25 August 2011|location=Poland}}</ref> [[Codarts]] in Rotterdam, the Lübeck Academy of Music, the [[Kronberg Academy]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Retrospective 2013 . Kronberg Academy |url=https://www.kronbergacademy.de/en/concerts-projects/masterclasses/violin-viola-masterclasses/retrospective-2013 |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=www.kronbergacademy.de}}</ref> and the [[Reina Sofía School of Music]] in Madrid, where he currently teaches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Violin |url=https://www.escuelasuperiordemusicareinasofia.es/en/violin-chair |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=www.escuelasuperiordemusicareinasofia.es |language=en}}</ref> He became a professor at the [[Cologne University of Music]] in 1997 and at the [[Zurich University of the Arts]] in 2002. He is also an honorary professor at conservatoires in Japan, Poland, Bulgaria, and other countries. In 2010, he founded his own school for musically gifted children in Switzerland. Bron primarily works in Western Europe and Japan.<ref name=":0" />

==Controversy== Bron has attracted controversy because of accusations that violin competitions have unduly favoured his students with awards.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thestrad.com/international-boris-goldstein-violin-competition-responds-to-criticism/3099.article | title=International Boris Goldstein Violin Competition responds to criticism | work=[[The Strad]] | author=Rebecca Schmid | date=2015-02-01 | access-date=2018-05-06}}</ref> In February 2018, [[Fabio Luisi]] resigned as chairman of the 2018 [[Paganini Competition]],<ref name=Lebrecht /> in protest at his perceived imposition of judges such as Bron by the Italian cultural official Elisa Serafini.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2018/02/01/scontro-sul-premio-paganini-luisi-rompe-con-il-comuneGenova04.html?refresh_ce | title=Scontro sul Premio Paganini Luisi rompe con il Comune |newspaper=[[la Repubblica]]| author=Matteo Macor | date=2018-02-01 | access-date=2018-04-14|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.genova24.it/2018/02/terremoto-sul-premio-paganini-fabio-luisi-elisa-serafini-maestro-dimissioni-irrevocabili-193021/ | title=Terremoto sul premio Paganini, Fabio Luisi contro Elisa Serafini. Il maestro lascia la direzione | work=Genova24 | author=Giulia Mietta | date=2018-02-01 | access-date=2018-05-06|language=it}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|https://www.zakharbronchamber.com/}} (in German) * [https://zakharbronschool.ch/en/ "Zakhar Bron School of Music"]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bron, Zakhar}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:Academics of the Royal Academy of Music]] [[Category:German people of Kazakhstani descent]] [[Category:German people of Russian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition prize-winners]] [[Category:Kazakhstani Jews]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People's Artists of Russia]] [[Category:People from Oral, Kazakhstan]] [[Category:Academic staff of the Reina Sofía School of Music]] [[Category:Russian classical violinists]] [[Category:Male classical violinists]] [[Category:Russian music educators]] [[Category:Academic staff of the Zurich University of the Arts]] [[Category:Jewish classical violinists]] [[Category:21st-century classical violinists]] [[Category:21st-century Russian male musicians]] [[Category:Academic staff of the Lübeck Academy of Music]] [[Category:Russian people of Romanian descent]] [[Category:Academic staff of Novosibirsk Conservatory]]