Sonntraud Engels-Benz is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of music. Born on August 22, 1956, in Stuttgart, Germany, Engels-Benz showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. Her parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Engels-Benz received her formal music education at the Stuttgart Conservatory, where she studied under the tutelage of renowned pianist and teacher, Prof. Helmut Lachenmann. She graduated with honors in 1978 and went on to pursue further studies at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria. During her time at the Mozarteum, Engels-Benz had the opportunity to work with some of the most distinguished musicians of her time, including pianist and conductor, Christoph Eschenbach, and composer, György Ligeti. She also participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Martha Argerich and Alfred Brendel. Engels-Benz's talent and dedication to her craft soon caught the attention of the music world, and she began to receive invitations to perform at major concert halls and festivals around the world. In 1982, she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival, where she performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. This performance was a turning point in Engels-Benz's career, and she soon became one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation. She went on to perform with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Engels-Benz's repertoire is vast and includes works by some of the greatest composers of all time, such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann. She is particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Franz Liszt, and has been praised for her ability to bring out the emotional depth and complexity of his music. In addition to her performances, Engels-Benz is also a respected teacher and has taught at some of the world's leading music schools, including the Juilliard School in New York and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is known for her dedication to her students and for her ability to inspire them to reach their full potential. Throughout her career, Engels-Benz has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the world of music. In 1990, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the country's highest honors. She has also been awarded the Mozart Medal by the Mozarteum University and the Beethoven Ring by the Beethoven Society of Bonn. Engels-Benz continues to perform and teach, and her passion for music remains as strong as ever. She is a true inspiration to musicians and music lovers around the world, and her legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.

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