100th Birthday

A Centennial Celebration of Roman Totenberg

The Boston University College of Fine Arts celebrated the 100th birthday of legendary violinist and longtime faculty member Roman Totenberg on Sunday, November 21, 2010, at Boston’s historic Symphony Hall.

Roman Totenberg’s influence on classical music can be heard every day in orchestras and music schools across the nation. His extraordinary talent as a violinist has inspired a lifelong career as a teacher and mentor to countless musicians around the globe. His unfailing dedication to guiding young performers into becoming world-class artists continues to this day. Learn more in this 12-minute video about his life as a musician, teacher, and mentor:

This concert marked the first time an orchestral performance was webcast from Symphony Hall, and a full video of the concert is now available for you to view below:

The concert featured the Boston University Symphony Orchestra with David Hoose, conductor, Peter Zazofsky, violin, and a special tribute emceed by political commentator Cokie Roberts. Performances included Ludwig van Beethoven’s Prometheus Overture, Béla Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2, and Edward Elgar Symphony No. 1 in A-flat, and former students Mira Wang and Na Sun surprised Professor Totenberg with a special performance of Bruce Dukov’s impressive arrangement of Happy Birthday.