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Jascha Heifetz was born to a Jewish family in Vilnus Lithuania, then part of the Tsarist Empire (1901). His father was a violin teacher. Heifetz commented in his autobiography. "I played the violin at 3 and gave my first concert at 7. I have been playing ever since." That included a career spanning six decades. Lithuania was part of the Pale of Settlement where Jews could live in the Tsarist Empire. But his brilliance gave him access beyond that of most Jews. Hascha quickly developed a command of the instrument that would carry him from his native Russia to all corners of the world. He made his first real public debut at age 8 years. This was a performance before an audience of 8,000 people when he was 10 years old. He performed with the Berlin Philharmonic when he was 11-years-old. He was a star student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory by which time a seasoned pro as a teenager. The Russian Revolution began in St. Petersburg while Jascha was a 16 year old student. He fled war ravaged Russia making the arduous journey through Siberia (1917). This was not an easy undertaking with the Russian Revolution, although the Siberian route avoided the German U-boats prowling the Atlantic. Jascha thus made his long-anticipated Carnegie Hall debut. Once safely in America he launched his hugely successful recording career. His audiences were mesmerized with his mastery of the violin. He became an American citizen (1925). In addition to his music, Heifetz supported Jes in Palestine. During World War II, he composed pieces, including the Violin Concerto by William Walton. He also arranged a number of pieces, such as Hora Staccato by Grigoraș Dinicu, a Romanian violin who impressed him. In addition to his violin work, Heifetz played and composed for the piano. He performed mess hall jazz for soldiers at Allied camps across Europe. Under the name Jim Hoyl he wrote a hit song, 'When You Make Love to Me (Don't Make Believe)', which Bing Crosby sang. He was notable not only for perfect pitch, but also flawless technique. Heifetz was also a very gifted pianist, and he enjoyed success as a Tin Pan Alley composer under the pseudonym of Jim Hoyl, though he remained most beloved for the violin wizardry that was apparent from childhood.
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