Heifetz, Vladimir, 1893-1970

Vladimir Heifetz (1893-1970) was a Russian-American pianist and composer, lecturer, organist, and choir director in New York and elsewhere, and an arranger for television, radio and motion pictures. He was educated at the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music and was accompanist for Feodor Chaliapin. Heifetz was director for many years of the Farband Culture Chorus, and music and choir director of Temple Anshe Chesed in New York. He created 300 compositions on Jewish themes, as well as, Maize Le Moize, an opera, and an oratorio and a number of cantatas. He wrote the music for two motion pictures and put to music the words of “Babi Yar,” by the Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko and “Shofar” by Nellie Sachs. One of his ensembles, the Heifetz Singers broadcast a series of programs over CBS and in 1935 they toured America. He was the son of the first violinist, Ephim Heifetz, who performed in the Czar’s Court for a period of 12 years. His brother was the famous cellist Benor Heifetz. He was the cousin of the world-famed violinist, Jascha Heifetz. He died on May 5, 1970 of a heart attack while he accompanied Sidor Belarsky in Deer Park, Long Island, N.Y. Source “Vladimir Heifetz, Pianist, dies at 76”, The New York Times, May 6, 1970. p.43.

Vladimir Heifetz (1893-1970) was a Russian-American pianist, composer, conductor and choral director.

Born into a musical family (he was a cousin of violinist, Jascha Heifetz), Heifetz trained in Russia as a pianist at the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music and he performed as an accompanist for Fyodor Chaliapin. After settling in New York, Heifetz served as the music and choir director of Temple Anshe Chesed for many years. He also had a long association with the chorus of the Poale Zion (Farband) and the Yiddish Culture Chorus. He created numerous compositions, arrangements, and orchestrations, primarily on Jewish themes. Among his works, Heifetz composed a symphony, an opera, an oratorio, and a number of cantatas. He also created music for the Yiddish Art Theater, Folksbiene Theater, and for several motion pictures.