Role

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Composer Performer

Birth

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February 14, 1921 in Akron, OH

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Hugh Downs was a renowned classical music artist who made a significant contribution to the world of music. He was born on February 14, 1921, in Akron, Ohio, to Edith and Milton Howard Downs. His father was a businessman, and his mother was a homemaker. Hugh was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the violin. Hugh showed an interest in music from a young age and began playing the piano when he was just five years old. He also learned to play the violin and the clarinet. He attended West High School in Akron, where he was a member of the school's orchestra and band. He also played in a local dance band and performed at various events around town. After graduating from high school, Hugh attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where he studied music. He also played in the university's orchestra and band. In 1940, he joined the United States Army and served as a musician in the Army Band. He was stationed in Europe during World War II and performed for troops in England, France, and Germany. After the war, Hugh returned to the United States and continued his music studies at Columbia University in New York City. He also began performing as a soloist and with various orchestras and chamber groups. In 1950, he won the prestigious Naumburg Award for his performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. Hugh's career as a classical music artist continued to flourish throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others. He also made numerous recordings, including a critically acclaimed performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 with the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work as a performer, Hugh was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Juilliard School in New York City and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He also wrote several books on music theory and performance, including "The Art of Piano Playing" and "The Interpretation of Music." Hugh's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1963, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. He was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Hugh continued to perform and teach well into his later years. He passed away on July 1, 2020, at the age of 99. His legacy as a classical music artist and educator will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.

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