Given Collection

Thelma Given's talent for the violin became obvious early in life. By the age of five, she could play simple passages with ease, and, in about 1911, her mother Margaret Given, after arranging an audition for her in Chicago, took her to St. Petersburg to study at the Conservatory under the famous violin master Leopold Auer (1845-1930). Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Auer was one of the most important and famous violinists in Europe as well as one of the most sought-after teachers. Other students of Auer's included Mischa Elman, Jascha Heifetz and Efram Zimbalist.

During her six years of study in Russia, Auer took her on tour, and she appeared, in recital, in the most important music centers of Europe under his personal direction, playing in such cities as Paris, Vienna, Cologne, Geneva, Milan and many others, but, in 1917, the Russian revolution began, and Thelma, her mother and Auer barely escaped to Scandinavia, after almost a year's quarantine in St. Petersburg. There she concertized further before coming back to perform in the U.S. where she debuted at Carnegie Hall in November 1918, under Auer's sponsorship. She continued to concertize in America and Europe throughout the 1920's to great acclaim, being hailed as one of the few female virtuosos of the time. The Given archive contains copies of several of her programs during her career in which she played to extravagant praise as follows: "without equal among the women violinists and ranks high among the finest of the men." (March 5, 1924). This is a remarkable statement, considering the fact that Heifetz was touring the world at the same moment in time.

That Thelma Given may have been the excellent musician and captivating performer we are assured she was, cannot be proven at this distance of years, of course, but it is certain that women violinists, during the two and a half decades of Given's career, were most uncommon. Possibilities for concert achievement, let alone participation in major symphony orchestra positions, were a great rarity. The dedication, therefore, that Margaret Given must have brought to her child's musical education and career can only be imagined. In addition to such parental support, her grandfather gave her the magnificent Guarnerius violin on which she played throughout her performing years.

In 1943, she married Minturn de Suzzera Verdi, a prominent New York attorney, and, for the remainder of her life, she spent her time between her mother's home in Provincetown and her husband's homes in Syosset, Long Island and New York City. Those who do remember Thelma Given here are now very few, but those who do, recall an elegant and shadow-like presence, still resonating the aura of an unusual artist in out midst.

The collection of telegrams, letter, biographies and reviews related to Miss Given, as well as a rare audio recording of one of her performances, was donated in 1978 to the Heritage Museum by Joseph Notaro, including gifts from John Given and Eben Given.

Taylor PolitesJosephine Del Deo