Oistrakh << OY strahk >>, David (1908-1974), was a leading Ukrainian violinist. He achieved fame for his brilliant technique and rich tone. Such major Russian composers as Sergei Prokofiev and Dimitri Shostakovich wrote chamber music and violin concertos for him. Oistrakh was also a noted conductor and an outstanding teacher of the violin. One of his students was his son, Igor (1931-2021), who became an internationally acclaimed violinist.
Oistrakh was born in Odesa (then spelled Odessa) on Sept. 30, 1908. He began studying the violin when he was 5 years old. After graduating from the Odessa Conservatory (now the Odesa National Academy of Music) in 1926, Oistrakh began performing throughout the Soviet Union. In 1934, he was appointed to the faculty of the Moscow Conservatory. Oistrakh attracted international attention in 1937, when he won first prize in a violin competition in Brussels, Belgium. He died on Oct. 24, 1974.
