Hidy, Marta

Marta Hidy was a concert violinist, conductor, and teacher. Marta Iren Hidy was born in Budapest on January 11, 1927 and died in Hamilton on November 4, 2010. She began learning the violin at age three, with her mother as her teacher. Her first concert was given at age 6. Hidy began her professional career at the age of 15 by winning the prestigious Remenyi Competition as the most eminent violinist of the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. She went on to achieve international recognition as the winner of the Prague Chamber Music Competition in 1950 and the Wieniawsky Violin Competition in Poland in 1952. From 1953-1957 she was Hungarian State Soloist, during which time she appeared with orchestras in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania.

Hidy and her husband, Anton (Antal) Dvorak and their two small children fled Hungary during the revolution. In 1957 they immigrated to Canada, settling in Winnipeg, where Marta Hidy established the Hidy String Quartet and served from1957-65 as concertmistress of the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra, and assistant concertmistress of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She formed the Hidy Trio from 1961-8 and produced the recording Music at the Canadian Pavilion (1967, CBC Expo 24). Hidy left Winnipeg to serve as concertmistress (1964-74) and later assistant conductor (1969-1974) of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1974 she formed the Ensemble Sir Ernest MacMillan. She was also conductor of the Chamber Players of Toronto from 1977-1979 and from 1980-1991. In 1978 Hidy founded Trio Canada with cellist Zdenek Konicek and pianist Valerie Tryon. She also played in the McMaster String Quartet from 1978-1989. Hidy has appeared as concert soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, and the Regina Symphony Orchestra. In addition to giving concerts in North America, Hidy has appeared as a soloist in New Zealand, Hungary, Japan, China and Hong Kong. Hidy was a founding member of McMaster University’s Music Department. She began teaching violin and chamber music in 1965 and retired as Professor in 1992. Hidy has performed as guest soloist under Alexander Brott and Boris Brott.

2015-05-26

A. Wilson