Helen Armstrong (violinist)

Helen Armstrong
File:Helen Armstrong Greencrop.jpg
Born	March 16, 1943 Rockford, Illinois
Died	April 28, 2006 (age 63) Greenwich, Connecticut
Education	Juilliard School
Occupation	Violinist Founder & Artistic Director of Armstrong Chamber Concerts
Spouse(s)	Alan Cohen 1965-1978 (deceased) Ajit Hutheesing 1996-2006
Children	Debbie Howser of Litchfield, CT David Cohen of Denver, Co Grandchildren: Brenden, Tyler & Cailey Howser
Parent(s)	Dr. Robert Bruce and Hannah Armstrong

Helen Armstrong (March 16, 1943 – April 28, 2006) was the founder and artistic director of Armstrong Chamber Concerts Inc (ACC), a non-profit, chamber music organization she founded in 1984. The creation and development of ACC was inspired by Avery Fisher and Skitch Henderson, who advised Ms. Armstrong that her new artistic mission should be to broaden public interest and knowledge of chamber music through performance and education. The heart of this mission has been to bring musical education to public and private schools through its unique Students’ Music Enrichment Program. More than 100,000 students have participated in this program in Litchfield and Fairfield counties, and in Harlem and the Bronx.

Ms. Armstrong developed ACC’s reputation by building a roster of more than 100 world-renowned-artists, many whom contributed to the education programs. Ms. Armstrong’s dedication, artistry and love of music and musicians inspired all those who met her and performed with her, including Itzhak Perlman, Skitch Henderson, Martha Graham, Peter Duchin, Kathie Lee Gifford, Christopher Dodd, Ezra Laderman and June Dunbar, to name a few.

Early life

Ms. Armstrong was born in Rockford, Illinois, on March 16, 1943 to Dr. Robert Bruce and Hannah Armstrong. She first held a violin at the age of 3, with her mother was her teacher. She arrived in New York City, during which time she studied under the renowned teachers Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay. Soon she was at the Juilliard School, she was among the select few chosen by Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay to learn the finer points of the art of the violin in pursuit of a solo career. Other famous violinists in the same group were Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman.

Ms. Armstrong made her Lincoln Center debut in 1976 and went on to perform with orchestras such as the Boston Pops, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the New Polish Philharmonic and with the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Career

Ms. Armstrong’s career as an international virtuoso violinist was interrupted by the long illness and eventual death of her first husband, Alan Cohen. Never one to search for fame or fortune, Ms. Armstrong turned her talents largely towards achieving the mission of ACC while occasionally performing on the international stage. During the past 22 years her focus had been concert performances in elegant private homes in Greenwich, in other venues in Washington, D.C. and New Milford, as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In addition, she built a sterling reputation as a teacher by committing the talents of top artists to her educational mission.

Ms. Armstrong, who was a prizewinner in the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition in Switzerland and has received awards from the Society of American Musicians and Outstanding Artists of Illinois, is listed in Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in American Women, Outstanding Young Women of America and Who’s Who in Entertainment. She has recorded on the Musical Heritage, Elysium and CRS labels — Reflections, on the Elysium label and the newest CD, Illusions, on CRS, which was recently released. Her violin, a J.B. Guadagnini, dated 1760, was one of her great loves.

Late in her life, Ms. Armstrong’s career took an exciting turn in a new direction. Always a classical violinist, Bruce Swedien, arguably the most famous sound engineer in the world, convinced her to join him in producing a popular music recording. True to their vision, they produced early cuts of a remarkable new recording, before being interrupted by her death.

Helen died on April 28, 2006 in Greenwich, CT. at the age of 63

Personal life

Ms. Armstrong was widowed by her first husband, Alan Cohen in 1978. After a long relationship with her husband-to-be, Ajit Hutheesing, they were married in 1996. Mr. Hutheesing, an investment banker, was the nephew of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and cousin of Indira Gandhi. He took Ms. Armstrong to India several times where she performed in concerts.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Debbie Howser, of Litchfield, CT; her son, David Cohen, of Denver, Colo.; three grandchildren, Brenden, Tyler and Cailey; her sister, Nancy Potter of Big Rapids, Mich.; and her brother Robert Armstrong of Dallas, Ore.

Photos

• Littlemomplaying.jpg

  Helen Armstrong at age 3

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  Helen Armstrong

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  Helen Armstrong and her mother Hannah

• Hannah Robert Bruce.jpg

  Parents: Hannah and Robert Bruce Armstrong

• Helen alan toasting.jpg

  Helen & Alan Cohen (1965)

• Mom dad debbie piano.jpg

  Helen Armstrong with husband Alan Cohen and daughter Debbie Howser (1967)

• ArmstrongHenderson.jpg

  Helen Armstrong and Skitch Henderson

• Helenarmstrong.jpg

  Helen Armstrong

• Helen ajit wed.jpg

  Helen & Ajit's Wedding in India (1996)

• Helen Armstrong Greencrop.jpg

  Helen Armstrong

• 2004kathiehelendebbie.jpg

  Kathie Lee Gifford - Helen Armstrong - Debbie Howser

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  Helen Armstrong performing in 2006

External links

• Armstrong Chamber Concerts Official website
• Helen Armstrong Tribute site