Pyotr Solomonovich Stolyarsky, was a Soviet violinist and eminent pedagogue, honored as People"s Artist of UkSSR .
Background
Stolyarsky was born in 1871 in Lypovets, Kiev Governorate, Russian Empire (in present-day Ukraine). He first studied with his father, then with Stanisław Barcewicz in Warsaw, and subsequently with Emil Młynarski and Josef Karbulka in Odessa.
Education
In 1893 graduated from Odessa music school.
Career
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 (where he became a professor in 1923).
He founded the Odessa School of violin playing and became one of the founders of the Soviet violin school.
In 1937, at one of the most prestigious international competitions of its time, the International Ysaye Competition, Stolyarsky students caused a sensation. Top prizes were garnered by David Oistrakh, Boris Goldshtein (Goldstein), 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 Soviet Union Stolyarsky"s name was always associated with the special pedagogic method for professional instruction(s) in music for gifted children (from an early age). Name of Stolyarsky is also associated with the special musical school for gifted children in Odessa (which was opened in 1933 upon his initiative).
He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
Also see School of Stolyarsky (for gifted children).
Membership
He was a member of Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) from 1939. In 1893-1919 became a member of the Odessa Opera House orchestra.