Maxim Vengerov, arguably the world’s finest violinist, has added yet another string to his bow.

Away from the concert hall, Mr Vengerov, 34, and one of classical music’s natural showmen, is devoting his time to nurturing musicians of the future. Two years ago he established a school for gifted musicians in Israel. Called the Migdal School, based near Tiberias, it provides free tuition to children of all backgrounds and Mr Vengerov now hopes to open additional branches, integrating Arab Israelis into the project.
He tells People: “Music gave me such inspiration growing up and I want to do the same for others less privileged. I want to give something back. My goal is that they will become cultural ambassadors for Israel. They can also learn to dance. I want them to show their talents off around the world.”

Russian-born Mr Vengerov started playing the violin aged four. Ten years later he won the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition in London, including First Prize, Interpretation Prize and the Audience Prize. He went on to win an array of awards, becoming an international phenomenon — at one stage, he was performing around 140 concerts a year. But he has spent the past few years conducting and doing charity work.

An honorary ambassador for Unicef, for which he set aside time for at least one annual project, he has performed in Uganda and Sudan as part of his philanthropy. He is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and a patron of South African orchestral organisation Miagi.

Mr Vengerov is based in Monaco, while his parents Aleksandr and Larissa Vengerov — both musicians — live in Israel. His mother, a singer, was the director of a children’s orphanage, while his father was the first oboist of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.