Sascha Gorodnitzki
Encyclopedia
Sascha Gorodnitzki.
Born in Kiev
, he emigrated as an infant to Brooklyn
, NY, where his parents founded a college of music. He was a child prodigy
; his teachers included his mother, then Percy Goetschius
, Rubin Goldmark
, William J. Henderson and Krehbiel at the Institute of Musical Art. At Juilliard Graduate School
, he was taught by Josef Lhévinne
. He won the Schubert Memorial Competition in 1930 which launched a long concert
career, his parents having refused to allow him to embark on a concert career as a child. In 1942 he married a pianist
, Virginia Henderson (1917–2009) who was later to assist in mentoring
her husband's students.
He began teaching at Juilliard in 1932. Merely in the interval between 1977 and 1979 his students won 40 major awards in world-class competition. Described by the New York Times as a "perfectionist
" , his style of coaching was described as "supportive and intimidating" .
He remained a member of the Juilliard faculty until his death. His widow endowed the Sascha Gorodnitzki Faculty Chair in Piano Studies at New York University
’s Steinhardt School of Culture in 2008.
His recorded legacy for Capitol and Columbia includes solo works by Brahms, Liszt, Chopin and Debussy. His playing was described as "electrifying" and "exciting".
Born in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, he emigrated as an infant to Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, NY, where his parents founded a college of music. He was a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
; his teachers included his mother, then Percy Goetschius
Percy Goetschius
Percy Goetschius won international fame in the teaching of the theory of composition.-Life:Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Goetschius was the piano pupil of Robert E. H. Gehring, a prominent teacher of that era. Goetschius was the organist of the Second Presbyterian Church from 1868–1870 and of the...
, Rubin Goldmark
Rubin Goldmark
Rubin Goldmark was an American composer, pianist, and educator. Although in his time he was an often performed American nationalist composer, his works are seldom played – instead he is known as the teacher of Aaron Copland and George Gershwin...
, William J. Henderson and Krehbiel at the Institute of Musical Art. At Juilliard Graduate School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, he was taught by Josef Lhévinne
Josef Lhévinne
Josef Lhévinne was a Russian pianist and piano teacher.Joseph Arkadievich Levin was born into a family of musicians in Oryol and studied at the Imperial Conservatory in Moscow under Vasily Safonov...
. He won the Schubert Memorial Competition in 1930 which launched a long concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
career, his parents having refused to allow him to embark on a concert career as a child. In 1942 he married a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, Virginia Henderson (1917–2009) who was later to assist in mentoring
Mentoring
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
her husband's students.
He began teaching at Juilliard in 1932. Merely in the interval between 1977 and 1979 his students won 40 major awards in world-class competition. Described by the New York Times as a "perfectionist
Perfectionism (psychology)
Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that a state of completeness and flawlessness can and should be attained. In its pathological form, perfectionism is a belief that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable...
" , his style of coaching was described as "supportive and intimidating" .
He remained a member of the Juilliard faculty until his death. His widow endowed the Sascha Gorodnitzki Faculty Chair in Piano Studies at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
’s Steinhardt School of Culture in 2008.
His recorded legacy for Capitol and Columbia includes solo works by Brahms, Liszt, Chopin and Debussy. His playing was described as "electrifying" and "exciting".