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playing in an orchestra."
Berofsky, who connected with the vio-
lin as a preschooler, attended the pre-col-
lege program at the Juilliard School,
where he went on to earn his master's
degree. Before completing his college
credits, he became part of the Chester
Quartet, a membership he continues.
"I think I just took to the sound of
the violin," Berofsky says. "It's incredibly
human, sweet and varied. I gradually
became more and more interested in
how much fun and difficult it could be."
Berofsky, whose father had been a phi-
losophy professor at U-M 30 years ago,
serves on the university music faculty by
working with students individually. He
believes it is critical to make all of them
feel as comfortable as possible so they
can be as expressive as possible.
Before coming to Ann Arbor,
Berofsky was on the faculty of Indiana
University — South Bend, where the
Chester String Quartet was in resi-
dence. His wife, Kathryn Votapek, a
member of the quartet before he was
chosen, also was on the violin faculty in
Indiana and will be assistant concert-
master of the AASO.
The couple, busy with two children,
practice at home but not together.
"I feel that I want to keep a certain
amount of practicing as a regular part of
my life," Berofsky says. "We don't have
our own space for practice so if one of
us notices an empty room, that person
goes in and plays."
As Berofsky prepares to take part in a
chamber music series at the Jewish
Community Center of Washtenaw
County, he recalls his own bar mitzvah.
His mother, who has taught music and
dance, wrote the music for the celebra-
tion, and both performed it.
"My wife and I are getting ready to
do programs in Ann Arbor and- New
York to mark the 100th anniversary

Ripleywitz's
Believe It Or Not

rrihree odd Jewish-related celeb
di items recently came to light. In
case you missed them:
RODNEY DANGERFIELD, 82,
recently consulted the "Raelian cult"
about having himself cloned. The film
of his meetings with the Raelians will
be in a future documentary on the
comedian. Yes, the expected jokes
about his clone getting "no respect"
were all over the place.

„

of Dvorak's death," Berofsky says.
"Dvorak was a composer we both
love and respect. His music is rich,
tuneful and fun."

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Berofsky, left, continues to perform as a
member of the Chester String Quartet,
with, counterclockwise, his wife and
fellow violinist Kathryn Votapek, cellist
Eric Kutz and violist Jessica Thompson.

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Prince, the rock star, became a
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this Yom Kippur when Prince rang
their bell and tried to convert them.
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11/14
2003

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