Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Symphony

 

Mary Sauer was born on August 17, 1927, in Wausau, Wisconsin. She was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist and her mother played the piano. Sauer began playing the piano at the age of four and showed a natural talent for the instrument. Sauer's family moved to Chicago when she was six years old, and she continued her piano studies with various teachers. At the age of 12, she began studying with Rudolph Ganz, a renowned pianist and conductor. Ganz recognized Sauer's talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Sauer attended the Chicago Musical College, where she studied with Ganz and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1948. She then went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied with Rosina Lhévinne and earned a Master of Music degree in 1950. After completing her studies, Sauer began her career as a concert pianist. She made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1951, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile pianist, and she performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Sauer was particularly known for her interpretations of the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff. She performed his works frequently and recorded several of his piano concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of André Previn. She also recorded solo piano works by Rachmaninoff, including his Preludes and Etudes-Tableaux. In addition to her performances as a soloist, Sauer was also a sought-after chamber musician. She frequently performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's chamber music series and was a member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians. She also collaborated with many other musicians, including violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Sauer was a dedicated teacher and taught at several institutions throughout her career. She was a faculty member at the Chicago Musical College, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Chicago. She also taught at the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Tanglewood Music Center. Throughout her career, Sauer received many honors and awards. In 1981, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Chicago Musical College. In 1994, she was awarded the Order of Lincoln, the highest honor given by the state of Illinois. She was also a recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. Sauer continued to perform and teach well into her 80s. She retired from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2000 but continued to perform as a soloist and chamber musician. She also continued to teach, giving master classes and private lessons. Mary Sauer passed away on December 29, 2008, at the age of 81. She was remembered as a talented and dedicated musician who had a profound impact on the world of classical music. Her recordings and performances continue to inspire and delight audiences around the world.

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