Eleanor Sokoloff
Encyclopedia
Eleanor Sokoloff is an American pianist and famous pedagogue of piano. She is now in her eighth decade of teaching on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music
.
Born Eleanor Blum in Cleveland, Ohio
, Sokoloff was the daughter of a barber. Her mother, a housewife, was an amateur singer and encouraged her daughter's musical interests. She began her studies with Ruth Edwards at the Cleveland Institute of Music
at the age of 8. In 1931, she enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music
, and studied with David Saperton
. She later studied the duo-piano repertoire with Vera Brodsky and Harold Triggs and eventually formed a highly successful duo team with her husband, pianist Vladimir Sokolov. Vladimir was also on the piano faculty at Curtis and from 1938 to 1950 was the pianist for the Philadelphia Orchestra
. Their daughter Laurie Sokoloff is the principal piccoloist of the Baltimore Symphony and their daughter Kathy Sokoloff is the Director of Development at the Settlement Music School.
In 1936, Mrs. Sokoloff joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, first as a piano instructor to non-piano majors (1936 to 1949) and since 1950 as a full fledged member of the piano faculty. Since then, more than seventy-five of her students have been chosen to perform as soloists with the Philadelphia Orchestra
. Among her students are pianists Hugh Sung
, Lambert Orkis, Marcantonio Barone, Susan Starr
, Claire Huangci
, Kit Armstrong
, Craig Sheppard, Meng-Chieh Liu, Leon McCawley
, Keith Jarrett
and Sean Kennard
. In 2001, in recognition of her tenure, Sokoloff received the Curtis Alumni Award.
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
.
Born Eleanor Blum in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Sokoloff was the daughter of a barber. Her mother, a housewife, was an amateur singer and encouraged her daughter's musical interests. She began her studies with Ruth Edwards at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
at the age of 8. In 1931, she enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
, and studied with David Saperton
David Saperton
David Saperton was an American pianist known especially for being the first pianist to play the entire original compositions as well as the complete transcriptions of his father-in-law, Leopold Godowsky. He also recorded a number of Godowsky’s Studies on Chopin's Études as well as other pieces...
. She later studied the duo-piano repertoire with Vera Brodsky and Harold Triggs and eventually formed a highly successful duo team with her husband, pianist Vladimir Sokolov. Vladimir was also on the piano faculty at Curtis and from 1938 to 1950 was the pianist for the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
. Their daughter Laurie Sokoloff is the principal piccoloist of the Baltimore Symphony and their daughter Kathy Sokoloff is the Director of Development at the Settlement Music School.
In 1936, Mrs. Sokoloff joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, first as a piano instructor to non-piano majors (1936 to 1949) and since 1950 as a full fledged member of the piano faculty. Since then, more than seventy-five of her students have been chosen to perform as soloists with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
. Among her students are pianists Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung is a Korean-American classical pianist.- Early life:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sung began studying the piano with his mother at the age of three. At the age of eight, he began private studies with Eleanor Sokoloff. Sung made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra three years...
, Lambert Orkis, Marcantonio Barone, Susan Starr
Susan Starr
-Biography:She began her studies with Eleanor Sokoloff at age four. She later entered the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Rudolf Serkin until her graduation in 1961...
, Claire Huangci
Claire Huangci
- Biography :Claire was born in Rochester, New York to Chinese parents. Her parents are both scientists. Claire received a grand piano as a gift for her 6th birthday She noodled around on her own, got some help from her mother, who knew how to read music, and enrolled into Settlement Music School...
, Kit Armstrong
Kit Armstrong
Kit Armstrong is a British-Taiwanese classical pianist and composer. At 10 he had composed more than 15 works, graduated from Los Alamitos High School, and studied sciences at the University of Utah. At 12 he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and the Imperial...
, Craig Sheppard, Meng-Chieh Liu, Leon McCawley
Leon McCawley
Leon McCawley is a British classical pianist.He studied with Heather Slade-Lipkin at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and with Eleanor Sokoloff at The Curtis Institute of Music in the United States, and latterly pianist Nina Milkina was a source of inspiration.He won the first prize in the...
, Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
and Sean Kennard
Sean Kennard
- Early years :Sean Kennard was born in San Diego, California to an American father and Japanese mother. He grew up in Hawaii and his family moved to Philadelphia when he began studying at the Curtis Institute of Music, at age 13....
. In 2001, in recognition of her tenure, Sokoloff received the Curtis Alumni Award.
Sources
- Eleanor Sokoloff: Sharing Her Gift
- Ebony and ivory - and longevity: A master's influence reverberates over 73 years at Curtis., Peter Dobrin, The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, November 15, 2009