biographical statement

Citation:

Bachauer International Piano Foundation website, viewed Jul. 19, 2011 (Gina Bachauer; Greek pianist; student of Cortot and Rachmaninoff; developed a close bond with the people of Utah; performed frequently with the Utah Symphony; the Gina Bachauer Archives; Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation; May 21, 1910 in Athens, Greece; began piano lessons age 5 after concert of Emil Sauer; at 9 years old Woldemar Freeman took her on as a student; with him until she finished her studies at the Athens Conservatory age 16, winning the Gold Medal in 1929; to Paris to work with Cortot; parents paid for her to attend the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris; studied for 3 years under Alfred Cortot; met Sergei Rachmaninoff, from whom she received virtually the only lessons he taught after his self-imposed exile from Russia; funds ran out, returned to Greece; debut in 1935 with the Athens Orchestra under Mitropoulos; taught at the Athens Conservatory; concert tour of Europe; World War II broke out; stranded in Cairo for its duration; "kind of pianist-in-ordinary” for the Allied troops, playing roughly 630 recitals in camps and hospitals; married John Christodoulo, who died suddenly in 1950; traveled to London where she was introduced to orchestra conductor Alec Sherman, who engaged her as a soloist; married, and Sherman gave up part of his career to become her manager; London debut, Albert Hall in 1947; New York debut, Carnegie Hall in 1950; 110-120 concerts a year on six-month tours alternating between the USA and the rest of the world; traveled to Utah; close bond with her audiences and the Utah Symphony, under Maurice Abravanel; Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of the Hellenes helped make their first international tour a reality in 1966 when the symphony traveled to Greece, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany, and England; died in Athens on August 22, 1976; Brigham Young University was the first home of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition)

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