A slate of virtuosos, maestros and educators will share technique, explore repertoire, and reflect on life as an artist through a new virtual master class series organized and directed by Professor Dmitri Berlinsky and named for an MSU alumna who became one of the world’s most famous violin teachers.

The Dorothy DeLay Master Class Series launched in mid-October under the leadership of Professor Berlinsky, artist-teacher and professor of violin at the MSU College of Music. The free master class is offered weekly through December, and features high-profile artists who studied with the famed pedagogue. Each artist will work with interested string students. Anyone registered for the webinar is also invited to attend the seminars that include interactive conversations with Berlinsky and the artist.

Berlinsky initiated the new series to provide a space for musicians, students, and music aficionados to learn, engage, and stay connected despite the constraints on performance and instruction during the pandemic. Naming the series for DeLay underscores her connection to MSU as well as to Berlinsky, who came from Russia to work with DeLay on her personal invitation at Juilliard in the 1990.

“She nurtured so many incredible artists in her life, and saw individual strength and talent in every violinist she worked with,” said Berlinsky. “She literally knew everyone in the industry and connected her students with experienced musicians and agents to further their careers. This series is a way to honor her legacy by connecting her former students with our students at MSU, prospective students as well as everyone who is interested in music-making and craftsmanship.”

A lifetime of devotion

Dorothy DeLay was an esteemed violinist who performed widely through the ‘30s and ‘40s, and later devoted her life to teaching. Born in Kansas in 1917, DeLay began violin at the age of 4, studied at the Oberlin Conservatory after high school, and transferred to MSU to earn her bachelor’s in 1937. After attending Juilliard Graduate School, she founded the Stuyvesant Trio and played with Leopold Stokowski’s All-American Youth Orchestra. She returned to Juilliard in the late 1940s to begin a teaching career that included students at Sarah Lawrence College, the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Meadowmount School of Music.

Up until her passing in 2002, DeLay taught or assisted a veritable “who’s who” of notable violinists of the late 20^th century, including Itzhak Perlman, Nigel Kennedy, Gil Shaham, Cho-Liang Lin, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Sarah Chang and many others who went on to solo careers, principal orchestra positions with leading orchestras, and to win major violin competitions. DeLay returned to the College of Music in 1991 at which time she worked with students and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

To date, the College’s virtual master class has featured a DeLay alumnus each Thursday since October 17, beginning with Midori—a visionary artist, activist, and educator. Featured guest artists through December include David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Vadim Gluzman, distinguished artist in residence at the Peabody Conservatory; Anne Akiko Meyers, internationally renowned violinist and educator; Shlomo Mintz, world renowned violin virtuoso, violist and conductor; Philippe Quint, multi-Grammy award nominee; Masao Kawasaki, violin, viola, internationally renowned chamber musician and pedagogue, The Juilliard School, Aspen Music Festival faculty; and Chee-Yun, internationally renowned violinist and educator. Berlinsky will be the last featured artist of the 2020 master classes as a way to introduce prospective students to MSU and his particular style of teaching.

Second-year master’s student Daniela Diaz-Peter studies violin performance with Berlinsky. She was among the hundreds of virtual participants for the first master class with Midori. The international student from Venezuela knew of Midori’s devotion to furthering humanitarian and social causes through artistry, and was excited to learn from someone who impacts lives world-wide through music

"Midori was so invested in the creative process that she encouraged a beautiful space for us to concentrate, react and exist,” said Diaz-Peter. “More than ever, human beings are craving connections. Professor Berlinsky has inspired us to create a valuable space to learn, and more importantly, to stay connected.”

While the roster is full for 2020, Berlinsky is busy lining up DeLay alumni to participate in virtual master class sessions starting in January 2021. Thanks to a generous endowment, established by MSU Professor of Psychology, Lauren Julius Harris, the College of Music will have private funding available to engage additional DeLay artists this spring and in the coming years. Berlinsky, with his Strings Area colleagues, plans to continue this series in a virtual format for the indefinite future, and will to move to blended sessions when health and safety conditions permit.

When I initially approached a few friends with the idea, their immediate support and enthusiasm motivated me,” he said. “I have so many artists now who want to join. It gives me a strong sense that everyone in our profession believes it’s important to share and communicate with students right now. I think this an invaluable opportunity for our string area, as this series has the potential to include other string instruments. This is a way we can still have great musical experiences no matter where we are.”

The Dorothy DeLay Master Class Series is generously sponsored by the Belle S. and Julius N. Harris Distinguished Visiting Artist Fund established by Lauren Julius Harris.