Efrem Zimbalist

Efrem Zimbalist, Sr. was an internationally known concert violinist, composer, teacher, conductor and director of the Curtis Institute of Music.

Zimbalist was born in the southwestern Russian city of RostovonDon, the son of Jewish parents Maria and Aron Zimbalist , who was a conductor. By the age of nine, Efrem Zimbalist was first violin in his fathers orchestra. At agehe entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and studied under Leopold Auer. He graduated from the Conservatory in 1907 after winning a gold medal and the Rubinstein Prize, and by agewas considered one of the worlds greatest violinists.

Source: Wikipedia