Class is in: Leila joins Mannes
NewsThe US-Canadian violinist Leila Josefowicz has been appointed Felix Galimir Fellow in Violin Performance and Leadership at the Mannes School of Music in New York.
It’s a good call on both sides.
In uncertain times many soloists are expanding their teaching, while Mannes needs all the fame it can get to pitch against Juilliard.
Love Leila, the most dynamic violinist I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in concert.
I have sometimes found her a little hard to watch in performance because of all the facial expressions, but I would never not buy a ticket for that reason. She never seems to be just putting on a show. In fact, the thing – one of the things – I love about her playing is that when you close your eyes (or just listen to a recording), you can actually hear all the nuances her face is expressing.
One of the things I love about Leila is her commitment to particular works. She owns the Adams Violin Concerto. That’s just one example. Reminds me of Gideon Kramer in this regard. And she can play, no doubt. It will be interesting to see how she does as a teacher.
Leila doesn’t do anything half way or without total commitment. I’ve seen her give a masterclass. She is a terrific teacher.