• Most Respected Classical Music Platform
  • #classicalForever
TOP
Shirley Givens Juilliard Tribute

VC WEB BLOG | Harry Wimmer - 'Violinist Shirley Givens and the Lure of Hollywood' [BLOG]

In a VC-exclusive blog, Mr Harry Wimmer pays tribute to his late wife, violinist Shirley Givens - with some new discoveries from the Givens archive

The Violin Channel recently caught up with New York-based cello pedagogue, Mr Harry Wimmer - husband of the late violinist Ms Shirley Givenswho passed away on 10th of January, aged 86.

In a VC-exclusive blog, Mr Wimmer pays tribute to his beloved - with some new discoveries from the Givens archive:

"The pull of Hollywood in the days of child star Shirley Temple proved too tempting for mother Hilda of little Shirley Givens who, though brought up in the charming little town of Louisville, Ohio, had all but outgrown its cultural limitations.

So off they went, in the midst of the Depression, stayed with an aunt in Pasadena, California, while Dad Fred Givens provided free transportation since he was a conductor on the predecessor of Amtrak, the Pennsylvania Railroad.

 
Shirley Givens
VIOLINIST SHIRLEY GIVENS, OFF TO HOLLYWOOD!

It didn’t take long for super-talented 7-year old Shirley to be admitted to the Hollywood Baby Orchestra, sharing the violin section with none other than Lorin Maazel, who later became a world-famous conductor.

 

Shirley Givens Hollywood Baby Orchestra

KARL MOLDREM HOLLYWOOD BABY ORCHESTRA, SHIRLEY GIVENS (FAR RIGHT)

 

Soon Shirley became concertmaster and violin soloist with the Baby Orchestra, doing recitations and solo song and dance stints as well. Then the movies beckoned and she played a featured role in “Make A Wish”, a musical from RKO Studios with child star Bobby Breen.

Shirley Givens Shirley Temple

SHIRLEY GIVENS, A SHIRLEY TEMPLE LOOK-ALIKE

Now fast forward to a video clip from a 2011 “Soup to Nuts” concert-show in which she does an impersonation of the famous Hollywood actress Marlene Dietrich, singing and playing “Golden Earrings” from the film by that name. Little Shirley, throughout her meteoric career as concert artist and teacher, never forgot her Hollywood and showbiz roots, an easygoing theatricality and humor that made her so beloved by so many people whose lives she touched.

-Harry"

SHIRLEY GIVENS (AS MARLENE DIETRICH) & EDUARD LAUREL | GOLDEN EARRINGS | 2011 SOUP TO NUTS

 

PREVIOUS:
SAD NEWS | Juilliard School Violin Pedagogue Shirley Givens Has Passed Away – Aged 86

upcoming events

june 2025

01junAll Day13International Conducting Competition Rotterdam(All Day) de Doelen, Schouwburgplein 50 3012 CL RotterdamEvent Type :competitions Event Tagscompetition,conductor

04junAll Day14Valencia Iturbi International Piano Competition(All Day) Palacio de la Música, Pg. de l'Albereda, 30, El Pla del Real, 46023 València, Valencia, SpainEvent Type :competitions

14junAll Day29Sendai International Piano Competition(All Day) Hitachi Systems Hall Sendai (Sendai City Youth Cultural Center), 3-27-5, Asahigaoka, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Pref., 981-0904, JapanEvent Type :competitions Event Tagscompetition,piano

july 2025

11julAll Day25Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition(All Day) Harbin Grand Theatre, China, Heilongjiang, Harbin, Songbei District, 滨水大道 邮政编码: 150010Event Type :competitions Event TagsAlice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition,competition

CONTACT US
x

Get ALL your latest classical music news conveniently by EMAIL

Free – and trusted by 2 million+ readers monthly