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Gabriel Chodos was a renowned classical pianist and music educator who was born on August 16, 1949, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Chodos began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Chodos received his early musical education at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Rosina Lhévinne and Martin Canin. He later continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski. Chodos made his debut as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 18, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. This performance marked the beginning of a long and successful career as a concert pianist. Throughout his career, Chodos performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, both in the United States and abroad. He was known for his interpretations of the works of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and other classical composers. He was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered works by many contemporary composers, including George Crumb, Milton Babbitt, and Elliott Carter. Chodos was a frequent performer at major music festivals, including the Marlboro Music Festival, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Seattle Chamber Music Festival. He also performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his performing career, Chodos was also a dedicated music educator. He taught at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston for over 30 years, where he was a highly respected and beloved teacher. Many of his students went on to successful careers as performers and educators themselves. Chodos was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1973, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is given to outstanding young musicians who show exceptional promise for a career in classical music. He was also a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Award and the Naumburg Foundation Award. Chodos recorded extensively throughout his career, with over 20 recordings to his name. His recordings include solo piano works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms, as well as chamber music works by Mozart, Schumann, and Brahms. Chodos was known not only for his exceptional talent as a pianist but also for his warm and generous personality. He was deeply committed to his students and was known for his kindness and patience as a teacher. He was also a devoted husband and father, and his family was a constant source of inspiration and support throughout his career. Sadly, Gabriel Chodos passed away on December 16, 2014, at the age of 65. His passing was a great loss to the classical music world, but his legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the countless people whose lives he touched through his music.

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