On March 4th and 19th, internationally acclaimed violinist Daniel Heifetz came to Baltimore to speak and play the violin for Bais Yaakov High School’s Voice Classes, taught by his daughter, renowned professional singer and voice teacher Elena Tal. Each year, Mrs. Tal invites her father to come to her voice classes, since she started teaching at Bais Yaakov, and every time it is a big highlight of the semester and the students leave feeling inspired and deeply moved. Mr. Heifetz shares his stories and amazing experiences as a world-class concert violinist, who has spent his life devoted to music and playing from his neshama, as well as the positive impact that Yiddishkeit has had on his illustrious career.
Mr. Heifetz is renowned on five continents for his extraordinary virtuosity, profound artistry and charismatic stage presence. His numerous appearances include recitals and solo performances with many of the world’s leading orchestras. His concert tours have taken him throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. Daniel Heifetz is also the Founder of the Heifetz International Music Institute. In a career spanning over 30 years, Mr. Heifetz has dedicated himself to the art of communication through performance and education.
Mr. Heifetz has been a powerful force on major television and radio programs and was a prizewinner in both the Merriweather-Post competition in Washington, D.C. and the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. As an artist who has always possessed a deep social commitment, he stunned the Tchaikovsky Competition officials and Soviet government when he met with Alexander Ginsburg’s wife and donated his prize money to the families of jailed Jewish dissidents Alexander Ginsburg and Natan Sharansky. As a result of this humanitarian gesture, Richard L. Thornburgh, former United States Attorney General and Governor of Pennsylvania, held a state dinner in his honor.
“It is a joy every year to speak and perform for Elena’s Bais Yaakov senior voice classes,” expresses Mr. Heifetz. “These are young women who are bright, intelligent and open to learning new things. I perform for them and teach them how sound is produced on a violin. I share with them insights into the classical music world and the life of an international concert violinist, as well as the impact Judaism has had on my personal life and my life as an artist. I explain that I was inspired by our daughter’s choice to become frum, for my wife and myself to become more observant, as well. I also show the students, by playing my violin for them, how Yiddishkeit affects my musicianship and the way I communicate my neshama through the music to the audience. I describe how it has also affected the kinds of career decisions I have made, using Jewish classical music to inspire different audiences in many different situations throughout the world. I share with them that it’s important to have self-confidence, believe in themselves and not compare themselves to anyone else. I tell them that I pray that they live inspired lives connecting with Hashem’s “sacred fire” that burns inside of each of them.”
Elena fondly remembers as a child, going on tour with her father and performing together on many stages and concert halls, so it is always very special to rekindle those memories for her voice students. One of their favorite duets that they perform is the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Violins, with Elena masterfully singing the second violin part in scat (singing wordless syllables on the notes to imitate an instrument) – a memorable favorite of her classes throughout the years!
The importance and emphasis on musical expression was Mr. Heifetz’s reason for founding the Heifetz International Music Institute, which teaches gifted musicians from around the world how to be well-rounded performers who play with meaning and heart and to develop the expressive potential of every performer.
“My father always instilled in me that musical expression is just as important as technical skills. He inspired me to convey to my voice students that when you sing, you need to be willing to communicate what you feel about the music, and to not pursue music with the goal of being famous, but instead because you love it so much that you simply want to fulfill your G-d-given potential l’shem shamayim and bring people joy wherever it takes you!”
“Anyone can just open her mouth and sing,” elaborates Mrs. Tal, “but to be a true artist, one must reach the audience, and be able to convey what the song is about and the emotion behind it. This, too, is an integral part of singing. By the end of the school year, I hope to have helped my students find their own voices – that which is individual and unique to them. I encourage my students to be fulfilled musically and utilize their talents in a halachic way, filled with inspiration, kedusha and tznius.”
Even after graduating and going off to seminary or college, Elena’s voice students still reach out to express hakaros hatov and how this experience with her father has impacted them:
“Hi Mrs. Tal! I’m in seminary now and I thought I would let you know that my friend is giving a speech about music and I told her about the class we had when your father came in to speak and play for us. I was telling her how powerful the class and the music was and she is IY”H going to speak about it tomorrow. So thank you so much for all I learned last year. I’m still using the tools now!”
– Rikki K.
Elena Tal and her father, Daniel Heifetz hope to soon release some professional recordings of them doing more violin/voice duets together, so stay tuned!
For more information, please visit: https://www.elenatal.net/
