Comments:
Updated 1-1-10:
Of interest, I hope, is a memorial concert I have organised to launch the 'Dorothy Croft Trust for Young Music Students', Odessa College, Deaderick Auditorium, February 13, 2010, 7:00pm. I am bringing, at my own expense, five young talents who were helped through their Royal College of Music students days with small scholarships or financial aid given by my mother, Dorothy Croft. These violinists, all former students of mine, are now active in the professional world playing concerts, leading orchestras, winning competitions and want to thank her for her encouragement, belief and help when they were students indebt. The funds raised will be used for travel expenses to concerts or competitions, equipment for respective instruments, accompanists, audition fees, master class and special lesson costs, cases - all essential, but costly items beyond the budget of many music students and will be distributed by audition through the Trust to students in the U.S. For those who do not know, Dorothy Croft was a dedicated teacher who produced many a professional violinist from her studio in Odessa -Cynthia Fleming (Leader of the BBC Concert Orchestra, England; Denise Tarrant (Concert Master of the Houston Opera and Ballet Orchestra): Jack Rozman (Head of Strings, Eton College, England), Dona Lee Croft (Professor of Violin, Royal College of Music, England) - to name but a few, all from Odessa and who will be at the concert on the 13th, respective orchestras and planes willing. My mother was instrumental in starting the Odessa Symphony (later to be known as the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale), Odessa Civic Concerts, Permian Playhouse, Presidential Museum, Globe of the Great Southwest, Odessa Music Teachers Association and was appointed in the late 1950s by Gov.Price Daniel to the State Mental Health Development Association to help improve the condition of mental hospitals in Texas. She never did anything for self-glory and always shied away from recognition, but somehow I feel she would be very pleased to have a trust carry on a tradition she started. She was not wealthy, just generous.
Updated 5-31-09:
I decided to move to Europe in order to study with the great violinist Nathan Milstein and Professor Bela Katona of the Franz Liszt Academy (Budapest). Performances as a soloist and chamber musician have included concerts throughout the UK, Europe, Mexico and America including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. In 1991 I was awarded an Hon RCM by the then President of the Royal College of Music, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. My CDs are available through Amazon.co.uk and The Classical Recording Company (classicalrecording.com).
The Fundacion Isaac Albeniz (Spain) and HARMOS (Portugal), European-wide, multi-lingual video masterclasses feature some of my Royal College of Music teaching via 'Magister Musicae'.
