Birth

:

1941 in Jackson Heights, NY

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Virginia Eskin is a renowned classical pianist, musicologist, and educator. She was born on August 22, 1942, in New York City, and grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a violinist, and her mother was a pianist. Eskin began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Eskin received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School in 1963, where she studied with Rosina Lhévinne. She then went on to earn her Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1965, where she studied with Leonard Shure. Eskin continued her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her Ph.D. in musicology in 1975. Throughout her career, Eskin has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician. She has given recitals and concerts throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Boston Pops, the San Francisco Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic. Eskin has also collaborated with many distinguished musicians, including violinist Joseph Silverstein, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. Eskin is particularly known for her performances of music by lesser-known composers, especially women composers. She has recorded several albums of music by women composers, including Amy Beach, Clara Schumann, and Fanny Mendelssohn. Eskin has also been a champion of the music of American composer Charles Ives, and has recorded several of his works. In addition to her performing career, Eskin is also a respected musicologist and educator. She has taught at several universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the New England Conservatory of Music. Eskin has also written extensively on music, with articles published in numerous scholarly journals. Eskin has received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1985, she was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowship. In 1991, she was awarded the Alice M. Ditson Award for her contributions to American music. In 2002, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). One of Eskin's most notable performances was her 1985 performance of Charles Ives' Concord Sonata at the Library of Congress. The performance was recorded and released on the Nonesuch label, and received critical acclaim. The New York Times called it "a performance of extraordinary power and insight." Eskin has also been involved in several important music organizations throughout her career. She served as the president of the International Alliance for Women in Music from 1991 to 1994, and has been a member of the board of directors of the American Musicological Society. In addition to her performing and scholarly work, Eskin has also been involved in music education. She has given masterclasses and workshops throughout the United States and Europe, and has been a faculty member at several summer music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. Overall, Virginia Eskin is a highly respected and accomplished classical pianist, musicologist, and educator. Her performances and recordings of music by lesser-known composers, especially women composers, have been particularly notable.

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