Stefan and Alexander Hersh: A Father-Son Duo Takes the Stage
For Symphony Parnassus's Spring Concert on April 19, the centerpiece of the program is Saint-Saëns's La muse et le poète — a single-movement work for violin, cello, and orchestra that the composer himself described as "a conversation between the two instruments instead of a debate between two virtuosos." The soloists performing it bring that conversational spirit a personal dimension: violinist Stefan Hersh and cellist Alexander Hersh are father and son.
Alexander Hersh, cello
A top laureate of the Naumburg International Cello Competition, Alexander Hersh is widely recognized as one of the most creative and versatile cellists of his generation. Praised for his 2022 Carnegie Hall debut recital, he has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Houston Symphony, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Symphony, and Boston Pops, and received top prizes from the Pro Musicis International Award, Astral Artists National Auditions, and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant.
An avid chamber musician, Hersh has toured with Musicians from Marlboro and performed at leading festivals including Marlboro, Chamber Music Northwest, Ravinia, Caramoor, Music@Menlo, Lucerne, and IMS Prussia Cove. He is co-Artistic Director of NEXUS Chamber Music, an artist-led collective dedicated to breaking down barriers in how classical music is experienced, through intimate performances, multimedia projects, and new commissions.
His debut album ABSINTHE (2023) received critical acclaim, and he was recently featured on PBS's Now Hear This series in an episode exploring the music of Boccherini. A fourth-generation string player, his grandfather Paul Hersh taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for 49 years. He plays a G.B. Rogeri cello courtesy of Guarneri Hall NFP and Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins. In his spare time, he composes original music and creates short films that marry classical music with narrative — you can find them on his YouTube channel at @AlexanderHersh.
Symphony Parnassus audiences may remember Alexander from his 2019 appearance with the orchestra, when he performed Bloch's Schelomo to an enthusiastic response.
Stefan Hersh, violin
Violinist Stefan Hersh has a diverse background, having served as Principal Second Violin of the Minnesota Orchestra, Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony, and as a member of the Callisto Ensemble, the Chicago String Quartet, and the Chicago Chamber Musicians. He has appeared as a featured guest artist and soloist in venues across North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
Stefan is the founder and Artistic Director of Guarneri Hall NFP, a Chicago organization that produces a curated mix of live performances, original music videos, and digital content. He is also a partner at Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins, where he appraises rare antique string instruments and bows worldwide. He served as Associate Professor at DePaul University before joining the faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in 2003.