Anna Hegner

Anna Hegner (1 March 1881 – 3 February 1963) was a Swiss violinist, music composer and pedagogue. She was well-known as a violin soloist, and played concerts in Basel, Berlin, Leipzig and London. She taught in Frankfurt, Basel and Münchenstein, and founded a string quartet in Freiburg-im-Brisgau. Her notable students include Paul Hindemith. Anna-Hegner-Strasse in Basel was named in her honor.

Biography

Anna Hegner was born in Basel into a respected family of musicians. Her father was Magnus Hegner, and her mother Anna Viccelio.^[1] Hegner studied violin with Adolphe Ludwig Stiehle and Hugo Heermann, before attending the Hochsen Conservatory in Frankfurt.^[2] Hegner became well known as a violin soloist. She was recognised for her concerts in Basel, Berlin, Leipzig and London. For some time she lived and worked in Frankfurt and was Paul Hindemith's private violin teacher.^[2][3] She taught for three years in Basel.^[2] In 1908 she moved to Münchenstein and there she organized classical concerts in the Catholic Church (also performing as soloist) and organized summer concerts in the small gorge behind her house.^[1] She was the Basel Symphony Orchestra's first woman leader.^[4]

She later lived in Freiburg-im-Brisgau and founded a string quartet there in 1911.^[2] Hegner composed many violin pieces and some songs.^[2]

She died in hospital in 1963 from the effects of an accident. Soon after her death, Anna-Hegner-Strasse was named after her and for a long time she was the only woman in the Basel area to be honored with a street name.^[5]