Birth

:

December 25, 1930 in Byron Center, MI

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Vocal

 

John Wustman was a renowned American pianist and accompanist who was born on August 25, 1926, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the son of a Lutheran minister and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the organ. Wustman began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Wustman's family moved to California when he was a teenager, and he continued his musical education there. He studied with the renowned pianist and teacher, Olga Steeb, and later with the pianist and conductor, Leonard Stein. Wustman also studied composition with Ernst Toch and orchestration with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. In 1944, Wustman was drafted into the United States Army and served in Europe during World War II. He continued to play the piano during his service and even gave concerts for his fellow soldiers. After the war, Wustman returned to California and resumed his musical studies. Wustman's career as a professional pianist began in the 1950s when he became a staff accompanist at the University of Illinois. He also performed as a soloist and accompanist in concerts throughout the United States and Europe. In 1958, he was appointed as the official accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, a position he held for over 30 years. Wustman's reputation as an accompanist grew, and he became known for his ability to work with a wide range of singers and instrumentalists. He accompanied many of the world's leading opera singers, including Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, and Luciano Pavarotti. He also worked with instrumentalists such as Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman. In addition to his work as an accompanist, Wustman was also a respected teacher. He taught at the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin. He also gave masterclasses and workshops throughout the world. Wustman's recordings are highly regarded, and he won several awards for his work. He received a Grammy Award in 1984 for his recording of Schubert's Winterreise with baritone Hermann Prey. He also won a Grammy Award in 1991 for his recording of Schumann's Dichterliebe with tenor Peter Schreier. Wustman retired from performing in 2006 but continued to teach and give masterclasses. He passed away on August 3, 2020, at the age of 93. Throughout his career, John Wustman was known for his exceptional musicianship and his ability to bring out the best in his fellow performers. He was a true master of his craft and left a lasting legacy in the world of classical music.

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