Leopold Semenovich Auer, also known as Lev Semenovich, was born on June 7, 1845, in Veszprém, Hungary, and died on July 15, 1930, in Loschwitz, near Dresden. He was a Russian violinist of Hungarian descent, educator, conductor, and composer. Auer studied under Joseph Joachim and became the founder of the Russian violin school, training over 300 students. His pedagogical legacy is actively used in modern violin education, and many leading educators of the older generation, who laid the foundations of Russian violin art, were his students. Auer left a significant mark on musical art as an outstanding artist and teacher.

Born into a Jewish family in Austria-Hungary, Auer later converted to Christianity. His father was a painter, and Leopold showed musical talent early on. By the age of four, he could march with a drum, inspiring patriotic enthusiasm during the 1849 revolution. He began his musical education at the Pest Conservatory, studying under David Ridley-Kone, then continued at the Vienna Conservatory with Jakob Dont and attended the orchestral class of Joseph Hellmesberger. Later, he perfected his skills under Joachim in Hanover. At 14, Auer supported his family by touring the provinces of Austria-Hungary, performing in small towns.

Auer worked as a concertmaster in Düsseldorf and Hamburg. In 1868, he became the first violinist in the Müller brothers' quartet but soon left to accept an invitation to become a professor of violin at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, replacing Henryk Wieniawski.

In 1873, Auer became the solo violinist of the Imperial Theatres, and in 1874 he was awarded the title of soloist to His Majesty. In 1880, he took the position of conductor of the symphonic concerts of the court singing chapel, and in 1881 he successfully toured Russia and Western Europe. From 1888 to 1892, he conducted the symphonic concerts of the Imperial Russian Musical Society and led its quartet, known both in Russia and abroad. Under his leadership, many outstanding violinists were trained.

In 1918, Auer emigrated to the USA, where he became a professor at the Institute of Musical Art in New York and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Among his students were Jascha Heifetz, Efrem Zimbalist, Miron Polyakin, Simon Pullman, and Kathleen Parlow, who glorified the Russian violin school. Igor Stravinsky called Auer an amazing teacher, noting that many famous violinists owe their education to him.

Auer died on July 15, 1930, in Loschwitz from pneumonia and was buried in Hartsdale, New York, at Ferncliff Cemetery.