<p>"Two of the countrys premier teaching musicians are joining Rice Universitys Shepherd School of Music. Paul Kantor, currently the Eleanor H. Biggs Memorial Distinguished Professor of Violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), and Virginia (Ginny) Weckstrom, a member of the chamber music and collaborative piano faculty at CIM, will join Rice in July 2012. "</p>
<p>Rice</a> University | News & Media</p>
<p>Kantor will become the Sallie Shepherd Perkins Professor of Violin.</p>
<p>Kantor is in big demand as a violin instructor and is one of the world’s best (not merely one of the country’s best). Rice already has one of the best (I don’t think you can rank the top 5 or 6) sets of violin instructors. It speaks highly of the talent at Rice that Kantor would sign on there–I doubt that he would consider any school that doesn’t attract a sizable number of excellent students. He and Weckstrom will add to the many reasons to consider Rice.</p>
<p>Everytime I blink it seems that Rice is attracting the world’s most renowned faculty. Winkler, Kantor, King and many, many more. This schools is hot ;)</p>
<p>Rice is certainly a formidable school of music. The orchestra sounds unbelievable.</p>
<p>This is a loss for CIM-- Kantor was their star professor in the strings department.</p>
<p>I know that CIM is actively looking at some top string teachers as we speak about this. Rice has a very active recruiting program, and is always on the lookout for great faculty, as are all of the top conservatories. It also is a big draw when both members of a couple can get hired on at the same time, which was the case here.
I always feel sorry for the students in situations like this, because, although Mr. Kantor has given his students notice and will finish out next year, there are always those who don’t want to/can’t transfer for just the final year of study, and that’s hard.
Glassharmonica:Preucil, Smirnoff, Updegraff and Rose might pick an argument with your statement!!! Tee hee…</p>
<p>MM- curious to see who CIM will recruit (hope they don’t have their eyes on my daughter’s teachers!) By coincidence, she is studying with a Rice teacher this summer, whom she likes a lot. She says she’s heard so much praise for the school that she will think about it for grad school (did not apply for undergrad because of the location.)</p>
<p>This is along with the recent addition of clarinetist Richie Hawley as the clarinet professor. The woodwind department alone is really quite a powerhouse now.</p>
<p>Now waiting to see who they are going to bring in for voice as Kathy Kaun retires.</p>
<p>Do you know when they announce it???</p>