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Hero, Stephen
Violinist. Born in New York City on March 17, 1916 of Polish parents. Began studying at the age of 5 with his father Simon, who came to America from Warsaw. At 8 Stephen competed with 10,000 other young musicians for a gold medal offered by the New York Music League which he won. In 1920 soloist with the New York Symphony in three out-of-town educational concerts conducted by David Mannes. Visiting Europe in 1928-29 with his parents, Stephen spent the winter in Paris, working at harmony and solfoge at the Ecole Normale and taking private lessons from the great Jacques Thibaud. The following summer, Thibaud took Stephen with him to St. Joan de Luz. After several years in Europe he came back to New York, ready for technical coaching of his next teacher, Louis Persinger; successful concert tours which followed his studies brought him fame and success. At present with the Dayton Symphony Orchestra, Dayton, Ohio.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943

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