Ravinia 2021 - Issue 4

For All to Hear By Mark Thomas Ketterson SOME TIMES ARTISTIC TALENT RUNS IN THE BLOOD . Such is the case with the extraordinarily gifted young cellist Alexander Hersh, an alum of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, who is carving out an interesting niche for himself in the classical music market. Both of his parents are active violinists. His father, Stefan, is the artistic director of Chicago’s jewel box of a performance venue and recording facility, Guarneri Hall NFP. His grandfather Paul Hersh is professor of viola and piano at San Francisco Conservatory, while his great-grandfather Ralph Hersh was principal violist of the Dallas and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. It is quite the legacy to bear, but Hersh is profoundly grateful for it, and takes delight in relating a story of a fan who approached him gushing that he had studied with Hersh’s grandfather at Aspen. “I hate to break it to you,” he told the fan, “But that was my great -grandfather.” RAVINIA MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 18