Jacques Gershkovitch

Jacques Gershkovitch was a renowned Russian conductor and musician, born into a family of musicians in Irkutsk. He pursued his musical education at the Imperial Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, where he honed his skills in flute and conducting. His exceptional talent earned him honors upon graduation in 1913, as well as the prestigious Schubert Scholarship. This award afforded him the opportunity to study under the esteemed German conductor Arthur Nikisch in Berlin for a year, further refining his craft.

Gershkovitch's career was marked by notable achievements, including his appointment as the head of the Imperial Russian Army's military symphony orchestra by 1916. He maintained this position through the tumultuous period of World War I and the Russian Revolution, using his music to support worthy causes. During this time, he organized concerts that benefited orphans and the Red Cross, demonstrating his commitment to using his art for the greater good. Later, he would go on to become the first music director of the Portland Junior Symphony, a pioneering youth orchestra in the United States, based in Portland, Oregon.