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By Diana Skinner: It’s a match made in heaven, as far as I’m concerned. My two favorite violinists are joining forces to further expand what could be the most exciting string academy ever. It was just announced that internationally acclaimed violinist Stefan Jackiw will join the faculty of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University’s School of Music in Macon, Georgia. I find this match exciting on many levels. I’ve admired violinist Robert McDuffie for decades not just for his consummate artistry, but also for the way he’s constructed an unconventional career that many musicians now strive to emulate. His schedule involves concertizing, running a festival in Rome, teaching in Aspen, performing with rock legends, and being heavily involved with the string academy he founded in his hometown. I was fortunate to hear McDuffie perform Bernstein’s Serenade, after Plato’s Symposium at Brevard a few years ago and it ranks amongst my list of top live performances. My experience with Jackiw began during the pandemic as an observer in his free online masterclasses. His ability to combine masterful pedagogy with an accessible, comfortable, humble style was remarkable. I was also fortunate to hear Jackiw live in Knoxville playing Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, a performance that, to my ears, exemplified the distinction between a great violinist and a great artist. So it’s strangely validating, and tremendously exciting, to see the partnership between these two violin titans emerge. With Jackiw’s arrival at the McDuffie Center, McDuffie will transition to mentoring and coaching. In addition to Jackiw, the McDuffie Center’s faculty boasts David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who focuses on orchestral playing with all the McDuffie Center students, as well as Amy Schwartz Moretti, who serves as the McDuffie Center’s Artistic Director and violin pedagogue. The McDuffie Center’s tagline preparing the exceptional musician to thrive in the real world is brought to life by combining an intensive, conservatory experience with the practicality of a hybrid curriculum that takes into account music, liberal arts, and business. Final words on snagging Jackiw belong to McDuffie, who so eloquently said, “It’s a privilege and a joy to welcome Stefan to the McDuffie Center family. He’s not only one of the world’s greatest violinists, he’s an insightful and profound teacher, as well. He and Amy will make a powerful team, and our violin students will be the fortunate beneficiaries.”I could not agree more. Continue reading Violinist Stefan Jackiw Joins Robert McDuffie Center for Strings→