Peter Serkin

American pianist Peter Serkin was heavily influenced by his father, pianist Rudolf Serkin. With other renowned musicians in the family - his grandfather was violinist Adolf Busch and his great uncle was conductor Fritz Busch - his love of music was encouraged from a young age. He enrolled at Curtis Institute of Music in 1958 where he studied with Polish pianist Mieczyslaw Horszowski. Serkin gave his first concert in 1959 at the age of 12 at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. He performed with Cleveland Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra and, at the age of 19, was awarded the Grammy for Most Promising New Classical Recording Artist. Continuing his work with renowned American orchestras, he took a break in 1971 after the birth of his first child. Realising though, that he was destined to perform, he returned to the stage with worldwide performances and recordings of the music of Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Brahms and Mozart. After a long and varied career, Serkin passed away in February 2020 at the age of 72.

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