In fact, the brilliant performing career Gingold seems sure to have had was cut short by Gingold himself to pursue what proved to be another brilliant career: teaching. The man who, by most accounts in the music world, could have been the greatest violinist of his time, instead became one of the greatest violin teachers.

"You wouldn't necessarily be familiar with his name unless you're intimately involved in the string business," says Peter Gelfand, artistic director and founding member of the San Jose Chamber Players, which, in collaboration with the San Jose Chamber Music Society, will be presenting a concert and a master class honoring Gingold on Jan. 11 and 12. "But many of his students have won many of the major international competitions, become the concertmasters of major symphonies around the world, members of prominent chamber groups around the world and serve on the faculties of many of the finest schools around the world."

From 1960 until his death in 1995, Gingold taught at the Indiana University School of Music at Bloomington, considered one of the best music schools in the world. Among other teaching posts, he also headed the chamber music department at the Meadowmount School of Music and gave master classes at more than 30 music schools around the world.

Just as Gelfand says, the roster of Gingold's former pupils who are now master musicians—Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Joshua Bell and Jamie Laredo, to name a very few—reveals that Gingold's legacy indeed reaches a wide audience, even though his name is relatively unknown. Gelfand hopes the concert will educate the community about Gingold's contributions to music, especially because if the event is successful, he would like to parlay it into an annual festival or music series that would, as he says, "honor both disciplines: excellence in musicianship, excellence in teaching."

Gelfand knows firsthand just what an excellent teacher Gingold was, having studied with him at Indiana University. In addition, he studied with legendary cellist Janos Starker, whom the concert and master class will also honor.

Despite the musical virtuosity demonstrated by so many of Gingold's former students, there was much more to Gingold's teaching than purely technique. He served as a mentor to many, a role that seems to have been equal parts father figure and virtuoso.

The concert offers an opportunity to enjoy some of the fruits of Gingold's labors: All of the guest artists who will perform at the concert have been students of Gingold's and/or Starker's. Starker will share some recollections of Gingold, as well as insights into his music in a video presentation that precedes the concert.

At the master class held the following day, four high school music students will work intensively with violin virtuoso Yaron. Each student will receive a half-hour private lesson with Yaron—however, that lesson takes place in front of an audience, part of an educational experience for the students and audience alike.

'The Gingold-Starker Concert' takes place Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. (with the preconcert video presentation beginning at 7:15 p.m.), at Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St., San Jose. Tickets, available in advance, are $25-$30. Call 408.286.5111 for more information. The master class takes place Jan. 12, 2:30 p.m., at the recital hall at the Center for the Performing Arts, Santa Clara University, Franklin and Lafayette streets, Santa Clara. Tickets, available at the door, are $5-$8. Call 408.554.4429 for more information.