Edward Grach - The Violin's Virtuoso (2002)

Eduard Grach is a legendary Russian violinist, soloist of the State Philharmony Society, professor and head of the violin faculty of the Moscow Conservatory. He holds the title People's Artist of USSR. He studied in Odessa under V. Mordkovich and P. Stolyarsky. During the second world war he lived in the evacuation area in Novosibirsk where he attended the class of I. Gutman. Later on, he continued his education in the Central Music School and in Moscow Conservatory in Abram Yampolsky’s class. During his postgraduate years, he received master classes held by D. Oistrakh. He is a prizewinner of a number international competitions: First Prize winner in the B. Bartók Competition (Budapest, 1949); The M. Long and J. Thibaud International Competition (Paris, 1955); P. I. Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, 1958).
He is one of the most active Russian musicians today. He has performed extensively in his homeland and abroad for over 60 years, recording some 100 discs. He appeared as a soloist with the leading orchestras worldwide under the baton of Mazur, Zekki, Svetlanov, Kondrashin, Konvichny, Samosud, Rachlin, Rozhdestvensky, Inbal, Zanderling and many others. Performed in a Piano Trio with Malinin and Shakhovskaya and since 1990 in a duo with his wife, pianist Valentina Vasilenko.
Eduard Grach gives masterclasses worldwide and is a honorary professor of Shanghai and Sichuan Conservatories, China, Sakha Republic's (Yakutia) High School of Music, University of Indianapolis, Greece and Mastercourse Keshet Eilon, Israel.
Many of his students have won prestigious international competitions: during the 2008-2009 academic year alone they earned 23 such prizes. In 1995, 2002 and 2003 "Music Review" magazine awarded him the title "Best teacher in Russia".
He served as a president of the jury at international violin competitions, among them Yampolsky, Russia (1996,1999, 2002,2006,2009); Huml, Croatia (2009); New Names, Russia and Violin of the North, Yakutia; Beethoven, Chech Republic (2009) and was a jury member at Tchaikovsky, Russia (1994, 1998, 2002); Wieniawski, Poland(2001, 2006); Nielsen, Denmark (2004); Sion-Vallais, Switzerland (2002, 2003, 2004,2005); Paganini, Italy (2001); Hanover, Germany (2006); Szigeti-Hubay, Hungary (2007); Curci, Italy (2008); and Seoul, South Korea (2009) international violin competitions.
He is the founder and conductor of the Moscovia Chamber Orchestra, all of whose violinists are his students. He is a recipient of many state orders, including two "Order of Merit for Russia". In 2000 the star in the constellation Sagittarius was named after Eduard Grach.