Abbey Simon facts for kids

Abbey Henry Simon (born January 8, 1920 – died December 18, 2019) was a famous American concert pianist. He was also a respected teacher and recorded many musical pieces. People called him a "supervirtuoso" because he was so incredibly skilled at playing the piano.

Abbey Simon's Early Life and Learning

Abbey Simon started playing the piano when he was just five years old. His first teacher was David Saperton. When he was eight, he got a special scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. There, he learned from the famous pianist Josef Hofmann. Some of his classmates at Curtis later became well-known pianists too.

Simon also took lessons from other great musicians like Leopold Godowsky. After finishing his studies, he performed for the first time in big concert halls. These included the Town Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 1940, he won the Naumburg International Piano Competition. This was a big award for young musicians.

Abbey Simon's Amazing Career

Abbey Simon performed all over the world. Critics, who are people who review performances, loved his playing. One famous critic from The New York Times called him a "supervirtuoso." This means he was incredibly talented and skilled. Another critic said his playing showed the "golden age of piano playing." This refers to a time when many legendary pianists were active.

Performing Around the World

Simon traveled to Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific to play music. He performed with many famous orchestras. These included the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and London Symphony Orchestra. He shared his music with audiences in many different countries.

Teaching and Inspiring Students

Besides performing, Abbey Simon was also a dedicated teacher. He taught special "master classes" where he shared his knowledge with advanced students. He taught at important music schools like the Royal Academy of Music in London. From 1960 to 1974, he was a professor at Indiana University. He also taught at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

Many of his students became successful pianists themselves. One of his most famous students was Martha Argerich, who is now a world-renowned pianist.

Judging Piano Competitions

Abbey Simon also helped find new talent. He was often a judge at major piano competitions. These included the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Leeds International Piano Competition. Being a judge meant he helped decide which young pianists were the best.

Later Life

Simon lived in Geneva, Switzerland. He also had a home in Houston, Texas. In Houston, he was a special professor of music at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. He taught there from 1977 until he retired in April 2019. Abbey Simon passed away in Geneva on December 18, 2019. He was almost 100 years old.

Awards and Honors

Abbey Simon received many awards and honors throughout his long career. These awards recognized his incredible talent and contributions to music.

• Walter Naumburg Prize (1940)
• National Orchestral Award
• Federation of Music Prize
• Harriet Cohen Medal
• Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal
• Ford Foundation Award
• Distinguished Teacher Award at the Moores School of Music

Recordings

Abbey Simon made many recordings during his career. He recorded music for labels like VOX, Philips, and HMV. His recordings include:

• The complete piano works of Frédéric Chopin and Maurice Ravel.
• Important pieces by Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann.
• All of the piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. For these, he played with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

See also

In Spanish: Abbey Simon para niños