Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

October 15, 1889 in Castlebar, County Mayo

Death

:

April 16, 1958 in Dublin, Ireland

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Margaret Sheridan was a renowned classical music artist who was born on May 15, 1926, in New York City. She was the daughter of Irish immigrants and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist, and her mother was a pianist. Margaret started playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Margaret's parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. She started taking piano lessons from a young age and quickly progressed to more advanced pieces. Margaret's parents also exposed her to classical music by taking her to concerts and introducing her to famous musicians. Margaret attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied under the renowned pianist Rosina Lhévinne. She graduated with honors and went on to win several prestigious awards, including the Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1951. Margaret's career took off after she won the Naumburg International Piano Competition. She was invited to perform with major orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Margaret was known for her technical skill and her ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music she played. One of Margaret's most memorable performances was at the 1955 Tanglewood Music Festival. She performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Charles Munch. The performance was widely praised, and Margaret was hailed as a rising star in the classical music world. Margaret continued to perform and record throughout the 1950s and 1960s. She recorded several albums for RCA Victor, including a critically acclaimed recording of Chopin's complete Nocturnes. Margaret also performed with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, and she was a regular guest on television programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show. In the 1970s, Margaret's career took a new direction. She became interested in teaching and started giving masterclasses at universities and music schools around the world. Margaret was known for her insightful and inspiring teaching style, and many of her students went on to have successful careers in music. Margaret continued to perform and record throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She recorded several albums for the Delos label, including a recording of Schumann's Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra. Margaret also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of André Previn. Margaret's career was marked by numerous awards and honors. In addition to the Naumburg International Piano Competition, she won the Harriet Cohen International Music Award in 1953 and the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal in 1960. Margaret was also awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1997. Margaret retired from performing in the early 2000s but continued to teach and mentor young musicians. She passed away on January 9, 2013, at the age of 86. Margaret's legacy lives on through her recordings, her students, and the countless people she inspired with her music.

More....