I met Victor & Vera years ago when they first arrived in Toronto and later when they were teaching at the Royal Conservatory. I attended many of their concerts and had lunch with them on many occasions. I also remember attending Vladimir Ashkebazy's concerts at Roy Thompson Hall and visiting him backstage with them. Victor was a generous and kind soul totally devoted to his art. I saw him the last time he was in Toronto performing at the RC on his 80th birthday. To his family and loved ones my sincere condolences. A big loss to the music world.
As I posted on social when I learned of Mr. Danchenko's passing:
I'm still processing the loss of my beloved mentor and violin teacher Victor Danchenko who passed this morning. Nobody held higher standards for the art than him, and he held his students to it through a lot of tough love and sweat. He connected us to a great lineage of violin playing that was the source of tremendous pride to him - and the source of many wonderful stories told in our lessons. To feel like we were part of a history and tradition, thanks to him, is a gift that can’t be overstated.
Beyond that, I’m so glad to call many of his students good friends and colleagues. In a recent call he told me that it meant so much to him that many of us were staying in touch with each other. It means a lot to all of us too. Perhaps this was his greatest gift - the sense of community he created for us, with history and with each other.
Thank you for everything, Mr. Danchenko. To us, you put a dent in the universe. We are privileged to have shared some time with you. We love you and cherish your memory.
Victor Markevich was, for me, a mentor, a friend, and honored me by calling me a colleague. He was, for the musical world, a legend, one representing and promoting ideals of excellence towards which we all strive even when - especially when! - those ideals seem unreachable. Because it is in the striving that great things are accomplished.
My most heartfelt condolences to his family, and my commiseration to the world's community of musicians.
Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us in our hearts and memories.
So sorry to hear of Mr. Danchenko's passing. He was a Master Teacher and his work with Jean-Paul has been tremendous Thank you very, very much for the years of teaching and service.
Sincerely, Mary Desaulniers, Jean-Paul Desaulniers.