George Bornoff
Encyclopedia
George Bornoff was a Canadian violin
ist and string teacher. He notably developed the method of string teaching bearing his name, the Bornoff Method, which emphasizes an early focus on five patterns of half- and whole-steps formed by the fingers of the left hand. His book on violin instruction, Bornoff's Finger Patterns for Violin, was published by Thompson, C. Fischer in 1948. In 1974 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the American String Teachers Association
.
, Manitoba
, Bornoff studied in his native city with Gus Hughes (1916–18), John Waterhouse
(1919–20), I.S. Garbovitsky (1922-4), and Jean de Rimanoczy (1925-8). He was a member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
from 1923–1936 and served as concertmaster of the Winnipeg String Orchestra from 1925-1928. He also played in the orchestras of the CKY
and CJRC radio stations from 1934–1943 and played regularly in orchestras at the CRBC and CBC
from 1925-1943. He also played throughout Western Canada as a concert violinist.
In 1937 Bornoff founded the Bornoff School of Music in Winnipeg, serving as the school's director until 1947. His wife, pianist and contralto Mary Ada Baron Bornoff, taught with him at the school. He then taught violin and chamber music at Columbia University
in New York City
from 1945 to 1953. He became Professor
of Music Education
at Boston University
in 1953 where he taught for the next two decades. In 1973 he was appointed professor emeritus at BU and that same year joined the violin faculty at the Boston Conservatory
. In 1980 he became executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of String Education. He died in Bostom in 1998. Among his notable pupils are Lloyd Blackman
, J. Chalmers Doane, Donna Grescoe, Stanley Kolt, and Gerald Stanick.
His protégée was Professor Aileen DiNino who until 2006 was teaching violin, viola, cello, and piano privately in her South Florida home in North Miami. Professor DiNino developed an "unofficial" 6th finger pattern after Dr. Bornoff's death which mimicks the 2nd pattern in formation but resides one half step lower on the neck of the instrument, compared to where it would be in its normal position.
The Bornoff method is currently being taught by Timothy Blaha, Melissa Prato, Karli Vasquez, and Jonathan Angress. All of these people are students and protégés of Professor DiNino.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and string teacher. He notably developed the method of string teaching bearing his name, the Bornoff Method, which emphasizes an early focus on five patterns of half- and whole-steps formed by the fingers of the left hand. His book on violin instruction, Bornoff's Finger Patterns for Violin, was published by Thompson, C. Fischer in 1948. In 1974 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the American String Teachers Association
American String Teachers Association
The American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
.
Life and career
Born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Bornoff studied in his native city with Gus Hughes (1916–18), John Waterhouse
John Waterhouse (violinist)
John Fereday Preston Waterhouse was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and music educator of English birth. Born in Bilston, West Midlands, he was educated at the Royal Academy of Music where he was a pupil of Émile Sauret , Ebenezer Prout , and Stewart Macpherson . He was later named a Fellow of...
(1919–20), I.S. Garbovitsky (1922-4), and Jean de Rimanoczy (1925-8). He was a member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
from 1923–1936 and served as concertmaster of the Winnipeg String Orchestra from 1925-1928. He also played in the orchestras of the CKY
CBW (AM)
CBW is the callsign of the CBC Radio One station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The station broadcasts at AM 990, and this frequency functions as a Class A clear channel under former North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement allocations.-History:...
and CJRC radio stations from 1934–1943 and played regularly in orchestras at the CRBC and CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
from 1925-1943. He also played throughout Western Canada as a concert violinist.
In 1937 Bornoff founded the Bornoff School of Music in Winnipeg, serving as the school's director until 1947. His wife, pianist and contralto Mary Ada Baron Bornoff, taught with him at the school. He then taught violin and chamber music at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1945 to 1953. He became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Music Education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1953 where he taught for the next two decades. In 1973 he was appointed professor emeritus at BU and that same year joined the violin faculty at the Boston Conservatory
Boston Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory is a performing arts conservatory located in the Fenway-Kenmore region of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance and musical theater...
. In 1980 he became executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of String Education. He died in Bostom in 1998. Among his notable pupils are Lloyd Blackman
Lloyd Blackman (musician)
Lloyd Edgar Blackman is a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator.-Life and career:Born in Winnipeg, Blackman studied the violin in his native city with John Waterhouse and George Bornoff and music theory with W.H. Anderson. He earned a Licenciate from The Royal Conservatory of...
, J. Chalmers Doane, Donna Grescoe, Stanley Kolt, and Gerald Stanick.
His protégée was Professor Aileen DiNino who until 2006 was teaching violin, viola, cello, and piano privately in her South Florida home in North Miami. Professor DiNino developed an "unofficial" 6th finger pattern after Dr. Bornoff's death which mimicks the 2nd pattern in formation but resides one half step lower on the neck of the instrument, compared to where it would be in its normal position.
The Bornoff method is currently being taught by Timothy Blaha, Melissa Prato, Karli Vasquez, and Jonathan Angress. All of these people are students and protégés of Professor DiNino.