Vera Barstow
American violinist (1891–1975)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vera Barstow (June 3, 1891 – June 10, 1975) was an American violinist and teacher. She made a three-month tour playing for troops in France during World War I.
Early life
Vera Barstow was born in Celina, Ohio, but described as being from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] She trained in Europe.[2] Luigi von Kunits was one of her teachers.[3]
Career
Barstow had a busy performing schedule,[4] beginning with appearances in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York in 1912–1913 season.[5] In 1916–1917 her tour of Canada was interrupted by an emergency surgery in Toronto.[6][7] Of her 1917 appearance in Texas with Leo Ornstein, a critic reported that "Miss Barstow was delightful in every way and unquestionably one of the greatest women violinists we have heard."[8]
In the spring of 1918, she toured Pennsylvania and Virginia, including a stop at Camp Lee with pianist Herma Menth, to play for American troops during World War I.[9] She and Menth played gave further concerts for troops at Ellis Island and Camp Upton, working with the Stage Women's War Relief Society and the Jewish War Relief Society.[10] She went to France to entertain the troops there for three months in 1918–1919.[11] She described appearances of the all-female "Musical Foursome"[12] at field hospitals and playing for German prisoners. "I have never seen so much mud in my life," she wrote.[13][14] She also fell ill in the 1918 flu pandemic while in France.[12]
Barstow made several recordings.[15] Later in life, Barstow moved to southern California, where she gave concerts with pianist Helena Lewyn in the 1920s,[16][17] and taught private students in Pasadena and also at the California State University, Long Beach. Among her students were Akira Endo,[18] Elizabeth Morgridge Mills,[19] Arlene Gattuso,[20] Stanley Ellison Plummer,[21] and Eric McCracken.[22] She also coached the string section of the Pasadena Symphony.[23] She announced her retirement in 1962,[24] but was still teaching in 1969.[25] Isaac Stern was among the musicians performing at a gala concert in her honor in 1968, in Pasadena, with proceeds to fund a scholarship named for Barstow.[26]
