Editing Ivry Gitlis (section)

==Early life and education==
Yitzhak-Meir (Isaac) Gitlis was born on 25 August 1922 in [[Haifa]], [[Israel]] to [[Jewish]] parents Asher and Hedva Gitlis,<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/2012-10-05/ty-article/life-lessons-from-a-master-violinist/0000017f-f414-d497-a1ff-f69465d20000?v=1684958531664]</ref> who emigrated in 1921 from [[Kamianets-Podilskyi]], [[Ukraine]].<ref>Gitlis, L'Âme et la corde, p. 28 (2013)</ref>

Gitlis acquired his first violin when he was five years old and started lessons under Mme Velikovsky together with his friend [[Zvi Zeitlin]]. He then studied privately with Mira Ben-Ami, a pupil of [[Joseph Szigeti]].<ref>Gitlis, L'Âme et la corde (2013)</ref> When he was eight, she arranged for him to play for [[Bronisław Huberman]], which prompted a fundraising campaign to allow him to study in France.<ref>Gitlis, L'Âme et la corde (2013)</ref>

In 1933, he arrived with his mother in Paris and started to take lessons with [http://www.musimem.com/chailley_marcel.htm Marcel Chailley], husband of the pianist Céliny Chailley-Richez. Being very close to their family, he was introduced to [[George Enescu]] and [[Jacques Thibaud]]. In that period, he decided to change his birth name (Isaac)<ref>Gitlis, L'Âme et la corde, p. 62 (2013)</ref>) to Ivry. At 11, Gitlis (''Jitlis'') entered the [[Conservatoire de Paris]] in the class of [[Jules Boucherit]], and graduated in 1935.<ref>In the context of French Conservatoires, first prize, second prize and so on are the same as A and B grades, i.e. the highest level. Winning first prize meant graduation.</ref>

From 1938 to 1940, his teachers included George Enescu<ref>[http://www.thestrad.com/latest/blogs/violinist-ivry-gitlis-remembers-george-enescu Violinist Ivry Gitlis remembers George Enescu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724113636/http://thestrad.com/latest/blogs/violinist-ivry-gitlis-remembers-george-enescu|date=24 July 2014}}, The Strad, 19 August 2013.</ref> and Jacques Thibaud in Paris and [[Carl Flesch]] in Spa, Belgium and later in London.{{fact|date=May 2025}}