Leopold Auer

Birth Name:

Leopold von Auer

Birth Date:

June 7, 1845

Birth Place:

Veszprém, Kingdom of Hungary

Death Date:

July 15, 1930

Place of Death:

Loschwitz, Germany

Age:

Cause of Death:

Pneumonia

Cemetery Name:

Ferncliff Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Music

Leopold Auer was a renown Hungarian violinist, academic, conductor and composer, best known as an outstanding violin teacher. Many notable virtuoso violinists including Jascha Heifetz, Mischa Elman, and Efrem Zimbalist were among his students and "some of the greatest violinists" of the twentieth century. Admission to Auer's class was a privilege won by talent. Remaining there was a test of endurance and hard work. While Auer pushed his students to their limits, he also remained devoted to them. He used his influence in high government offices to obtain residence permits for his Jewish students. Auer wrote a small number of works, including the Rhapsodie hongroise for violin and piano. He also wrote a number of cadenzas for other composers' violin concertos including those by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart's third.