Willy Hess (violinist)

He commenced the study of violin when only five years of age with his father, who was a pupil of Ludwig Spohr.

When aged seven his family moved to the United States and as a youth he performed with his sister Joanna who accompanied him on pianoforte, making a number of successful tours around the country.

In 1872 he moved back to Europe, spending a year in the Netherlands and performing in a number of continental cities.

In 1895 he was appointed as principal professor of violin at the Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln (Cologne).

He played in a piano trio with cellist Hugo Becker and pianist James Kwast.