Vladimir Sokoloff (pianist)

Vladimir Sokoloff (pianist)

Dr. Vladimir Sokoloff and pianist Ruth Butterfield-Winter in front of the Curtis Institute of Music
Background information
Born New York, New York, United States
Died October 27, 1997
Philadelphia
Genres Classical
Instruments Piano

Vladimir Sokoloff, (Dr. Vladimir Sokoloff), (1913 – 1997) was a pianist and accompanist on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. In addition to his teaching work with the accompanying, piano and chamber music students, he was an active performer, collaborating with such artists as the violinists Efrem Zimbalist,[1] Jaime Laredo, Toshia Eto and Aaron Rosand, the violist William Primrose, the cellists Gregor Piatigorsky and Emanuel Feuermann, flutist Julius Baker, William Kincaid, oboist Marcel Tabuteau as well as soprano Marcella Sembrich.[2]

Life

Born in New York in 1913, Sokoloff entered the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia in 1929, studying with Abram Chasins, Harry Kaufman and Louis Bailly. He joined the faculty in 1936. In 1942, he took part in the founding of the New School in Philadelphia, (now the Esther Boyer School of Music at Temple University) with his colleagues Jascha Brodsky, Max Aronoff and Orlando Cole. From 1938 to 1950 he was pianist for the Philadelphia Orchestra. As a recital accompanist and pianist with a career of over 70 years, his repertoire spanned all instrumental and vocal genres and styles. He was known for his humour, versatility and, according to the singer Donald Collup, the "sheer beauty of tone coupled with a life of music making with everyone who came through the doors of Curtis"[3] As a piano, accompanying and chamber music teacher he worked with most of the Curtis students in one way or another. The accompanying department of the Curtis Institute was terminated upon his retirement.

Family and Private Life

Vladimir Sokoloff's cousin was the composer Noel Sokoloff.[4] He was Nephew of the conductor Nikolai Sokoloff.[5] Sokoloff married pianist Eleanor Blum (Eleanor Sokoloff, who at 102 is still on the faculty of Curtis[6] They performed as a duo until the birth of their daughters.

Eleanor Sokoloff

Vladimir Sokoloff was commonly referred to as “Billy”. He was awarded a doctorate by the Curtis Institute of music. His daughter Laurie Sokoloff is a flutist currently teaching at the Peobody Institute.[7] Dr. Sokoloff died in 1997 in Philadelphia, after a long illness.

Curtis Institute of Music

Students

Vladimir Sokoloff’s most famous non-classical student was Nina Simone.,[8][9] Who was not admitted to Curtis as a piano Student despite Dr. Sokoloff's efforts on her behalf. Other students include Ruth Butterfield,[10] Michael Etoi,[11] Thomas Jaber, Robert Koenig, David Antony Lofton, Elizabeth Manus,[12] Ghenady Meirson, Norman Mittleman, Alan Morisson, Christi Muse,[13] Chie Nagatani,[14] Orlando Otey, Eytan Pessen, Cherry Rhodes, Paul Romero, David Shunski, Barry Snyder, Nozomi Takashima[15] and Christy Zuniga.

Discography

References

Sources

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