Hess, Willy

1859-

Violinist, who was born at Mannheim. His father was his first teacher. He later studied with Spohr, and from 1876 to 1878 was a pupil of Joseph Joachim. As soloist and in trio with his brother and sister, he successfully toured Germany, Belgium, France, England, Holland and America. He played with the Thomas Orchestra in America; was leader of Opera and Museum concerts at Frankfort; founder of a string quartet; professor at Rotterdam Conservatory; leader of Sir Charles Halle's Orchestra in Manchester for seven years, and of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. Was made principal professor of violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 1903. In 1904 was leader of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Quartet. The Emperor of Germany conferred on him the title of Royal Prussian Professor. Hess was one of the many famous violinists to play at the celebration, in Berlin, of the jubilee of Joachim's life as a violin-player.