Fiddler on the Roof
Leave your mark in Vilnius - help create this cultural masterpiece
The Jewish Culture and Information Center (JCIC), located in the Old Town, in the former Jewish quarter, at Mėsinių St. 3, plans to install a bronze sculpture of one of the world's most famous violinists, Jascha Heifetz, on the roof of their building.
Jascha Heifetz Sculpture Inspiration - Harmony of Music and Architecture
This would be a small architectural sculptural artistic accent designed to adorn Vilnius, illustrating the enormous contribution of Litvaks to world development. We believe the sculpture will become another ornament of Vilnius Old Town, raising the prestige of Lithuania and the city of Vilnius.
We chose the world-famous violinist Jascha Heifetz as the sculpture's prototype. J. Heifetz was born in Vilnius in 1901. At just five and a half years old in 1906, he was admitted to the Vilnius Imperial Music Society School directly into the third grade. In 1909, at Gedimino Ave. 22 and 24, a concert of Vilnius Music School teachers took place, in which the eight-year-old violinist also participated. The proceeds from this concert were used to fund his journey to Saint Petersburg, where the young talent entered the conservatory. Even then, the world's top violinists recognized him as a virtuoso and a young prodigy. On October 27, 1917, he gave his first recital at Carnegie Hall in New York. Heifetz was just sixteen years old when he was hailed as the world’s greatest violinist.
Since Jascha Heifetz's connection with Vilnius is only the childhood period, we decided to create a sculpture of a child playing on the roof based on the virtuoso's photo from his youth. The sculpture will be created by Marina Royzman, a descendant of the world-famous sculptor born in Vilnius, Mark Antokolski. She currently resides in New York.
If this topic touches you emotionally and you have the desire and opportunity to contribute to making this sculpture a reality, your financial contribution, advice, or recommendation would be valuable and welcome support in making Vilnius more beautiful and famous in the world of high culture.
The sculpture will be installed in the center of Vilnius Old Town, on the roof of a historic building that is perfectly visible from the main city streets and tourist routes.
Sculpture location on Vilnius Old Town map
Detailed sculpture location plan
Official permission document
Here's how our sculpture will look on the rooftop of Vilnius. Each visualization reveals different aspects of the project - from concept sketches to detailed building integration.
Sculpture concept sketch
Sculpture fragment on the building roof
Full sculpture view on the building
Shmuel Tatz - Body Tuning & Physical Therapist, art collector
Gidon Kremer – Violinist, conductor, founder of the "Kremerata Baltica" Orchestra, chairman of the jury of the J.Heifetz Competition in Vilnius
David Geringas – cellist, conductor, pedagogue
Rūta Prusevičienė – Director General of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic
Prof. Julius Ptašekas - Doctor, entrepreneur
Prof. Petras Radzevičius – Violinist, initiator and jury member of the International Jascha Heifetz Violin Competition in Vilnius
Prof. Vaclovas Augustinas – composer, artistic director of the Vilnius Municipal choir "Jauna Muzika"
Modestas Pitrėnas – Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra
Algimantas Peseckas – Long-time concertmaster of first violins of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra
Rafailas Karpis – tenor, soloist at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Every donation brings us closer to creating this cultural masterpiece. The total required amount is €50,000.
Goal: €50,000
Roof slope assessment, tile contour evaluation, site selection, measurements
Model creation in sculptor's workshop
Transport of prepared model to Lithuania
Sculpture mold production and bronze casting
Sculpture mounting on JCIC roof
Official sculpture unveiling and presentation to the public
Help us create this cultural masterpiece!
Your donation will become part of Vilnius history and help preserve the Litvak cultural heritage.
Name: Jewish Culture and Information Center (JCIC) / VŠĮ Žydų kultūros ir informacijos centras
Code: 300670911
Address: Mėsinių str. 3, LT-01135, Vilnius, Lithuania
Email: info@jewishcenter.lt
Phone: +370 5 260 8718