![A young musician posing with violin](https://museum.yivo.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/RG121-jasha-heifetz-violinist-1064x678.jpg)
Violinist Jascha Heifetz as a child
Circa 1908. Portrait of Young Violinist
By the late 1800s, the city of Vilna was known for its art academy, orchestras, and theaters. The father of world-famous violinist Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) was the concertmaster of the Vilna Theater Orchestra. By the time Jascha was five years old, he was already recognized as a musical prodigy.