Pyotr Solomonovich Stolyarsky, was a Soviet violinist and eminent pedagogue, honored as People's Artist of UkSSR . He was a member of CPSU from 1939.
Biography
Stolyarsky was born in 1871 in Lypovets, Kiev Governorate, Russian Empire. He first studied with his father, then with Stanisław Barcewicz in Warsaw, and subsequently with Emil Młynarski and Josef Karbulka in Odessa. In 1893 he graduated from Odessa music school. In 1893-1919 became a member of the Odessa Opera House orchestra. From 1898 commenced his pedagogical activity teaching children from the age of 4. In 1912 he opened his own music school. From 1919 he taught at the Odessa conservatory. He founded the Odessa School of violin playing and became one of the founders of the Soviet violin school. With regard to violin teachers, through his teacher Emil Młynarski he is the "great-son" of Leopold Auer and the "great-great-son" of Joseph Joachim. Through his teacher Stanisław Barcewicz he is the "great-son" of Niccolo Paganini. His students won top prizes among important competitions. In the 1935 Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Warsaw two of his pupils won prizes: David Oistrakh and Boris Goldstein. In 1937, at one of the most prestigious international competitions of its time, the , Stolyarsky students caused a sensation. Top prizes were garnered by David Oistrakh, Boris Goldshtein, Yelizaveta Gilels and Mikhail Fikhtengoltz. "The results of the sessions created a profound impression: the Soviet school, with an assurance that bordered on arrogance, carried off all the prizes from the first down. The latter was awarded without the slightest discussion to the great David Oistrakh. Everyone else had to be content with crumbs; the Belgian violin school, though still a source of pride, failed, and its absence at the final was much commented on; Arthur Grumiaux and Carlo Van Neste, both young and inexperienced, were not able to convince the jury." In the Soviet Union Stolyarsky's name was always associated with the special pedagogic method for professional instruction in music for gifted children. Stolyarsky had superb personal qualities of a master teacher, highest musical instincts and organizational talent which made it possible for him to attain maximum results. Among his star pupils were David Oistrakh, Nathan Milstein, Iosif Brodsky, Samuil Furer, Boris Goldstein, Mikhail Goldstein, Daniel Shindarov, Elizabeth Gilels, Igor Oistrakh, Mikhail Fikhtengoltz and who was one of his last pupils. Stolyarsky's name is also associated with the School of Stolyarsky, a special music school for gifted children in Odessa. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
