Julius Hegyi

Julius Hegyi (February 2, 1923 – January 1, 2007) was an American conductor and violinist.

He spent his lifetime building orchestras, founding chamber music groups and instilling a passion for music in young and old alike.

His belief in contemporary music, especially American music, as conductor, violinist and mentor, brought compelling listening experiences to his audiences.

Hegyi was well known for his expert grasp of European repertoire, routinely giving commanding performances of Beethoven and Brahms, for example.

Hegyi was an active proponent of American music, with concerts devoted to world premieres of many composers.

He performed works by contemporary European and Chinese composers, as well.

Hegyi, in his role as conductor/violinist, performed many world premieres, such as:

Hegyi performed works by an extensive number of American composers, including John Alden Carpenter, Henry Hadley, Leo Sowerby, Daniel Gregory Mason, Quincy Porter, Scott Lindroth, George W. Chadwick, Ezra Laderman, Horatio Parker, Lester Trimble, Margaret Fairlie-Kennedy, Michael Schelle, Tobias Picker, Irwin Bazelon, Francis Thorne, Charles Wuorinen, Jacob Druckman, Aaron Copland, George Crumb, Robert Parris, Sydney Hodkinson, Leonardo Balada, Carson Kievman, Frederic Goossen, Walter Piston, Leonard Bernstein, Edward MacDowell, Morton Gould, Samuel Barber, William Schuman, Robert Ward, Wallingford Riegger.

"I remember being transported, when I first heard Julius Hegyi conduct the Albany Symphony Orchestra. I could not believe I was hearing musical interpretation that would make any orchestra proud. In subsequent performances with Julius and the ASO, I learned that this was not a fluke, but a testimony to the gifts and accomplishments of one of the greatest musicians it has been my honor to work with. Julius was a master of all elements of music—technical (as conductor or superb violinist), structural, emotional, spiritual. I will never forget him."

"You have always been one of the unsung heroes of the musical world; an honest forthright sterling musician/conductor, peerless in the profession. You were one of the rarities unafraid to give lesser known soloists a hearing, seriously devoted to your art; considerate and open with his orchestra members and interested in keeping the highest standards with whom you worked. Please know that you are remembered and appreciated by many."

"Julius Hegyi was a true musician and a warm, kind colleague. He was a wonderful person to talk about music with, and he always put the music first. He was renowned for his work as an innovator in contemporary music."

John Rockwell wrote in the New York Times "...it can be flatly said that the best performance (and the most unusually interesting piece, too) was Mr. Hegyi's account of Barber's one-movement symphony, which had its premiere in 1936, was revised in 1944 and championed by Artur Rodzinski and Bruno Walter. The score blends considerable passion with Barber's wonderfully characteristic arching lyricism. Mr. Hegyi, who has a good deal of experience with 20th-century American music, given the Albany Symphony's venturesome commitment to that cause, played it with a sure technical command that never got in the way of expressivity."

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Special Collections

Charlotte B. Hegyi Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony Materials