Frank Glazer facts for kids

Frank Glazer (born February 19, 1915 – died January 13, 2015) was a talented American musician. He was known as a pianist, a composer who wrote music, and a teacher. He shared his love for music with many people throughout his long life.

A Life in Music

Frank Glazer had an amazing career that lasted for decades. He performed classical music for audiences all over the world. He was especially known for playing the piano music of a French composer named Erik Satie.

Early Life and Training

Frank Glazer was born in Chester, Wisconsin, on February 19, 1915. He was the sixth child in his family. His parents, Benjamin and Clara Glazer, had moved to the United States from Lithuania. In 1919, his family moved to Milwaukee.

Frank started learning piano from his older sister, Blanche. Later, other local musicians taught him. He went to public schools in Milwaukee and graduated from North Division High School in 1932. As a teenager, he played music in his brothers' dance band. He also performed in his high school band and in vaudeville shows.

A kind man named Alfred Strelsin, who loved the arts, helped Frank. He gave Frank money to travel to Berlin in 1932. There, Frank studied piano with a famous teacher named Artur Schnabel. He also learned from Arnold Schoenberg, another important composer. After his studies, Frank taught piano in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

A Long and Successful Career

Portrait of the composer and pianist, Erik Satie, painted in 1891. Frank Glazer was known for playing Satie's music.

Alfred Strelsin encouraged Frank to start his performing career. He told Frank to make his New York debut before he turned 21. Frank Glazer had his first big concert at Town Hall in New York City on October 20, 1936. He played music by famous composers like Bach, Brahms, Schubert, and Chopin. Seventy years later, in 2006, he played the exact same program to celebrate his long career!

In 1939, Frank performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This was a very important orchestra. From 1943 to 1945, Frank served in the United States Army. He worked as an interpreter in Germany and France.

In the early 1950s, Frank Glazer even had his own television show. It was called Playhouse 15 and aired in Milwaukee. On September 6, 1952, he married Ruth Gevalt, who was a classical singer. Together, Frank and Ruth started the Saco River Festival in Maine in the 1970s. This was a summer music series for chamber music.

Teaching and Legacy

Frank Glazer was also a dedicated teacher. From 1965 to 1980, he taught at the Eastman School of Music. Many students learned from him, including Myriam Avalos and Martin Amlin. In 1980, he moved to Bates College in Maine. There, he became an artist in residence, which meant he was a special guest artist and teacher.

People often called Frank Glazer "the greatest interpreter of the piano music of Erik Satie." He understood Satie's unique style very well. In the 1960s, he recorded all of Satie's piano music for Vox Records. This means he played every piece and it was put on albums for people to listen to.

Remembering Frank Glazer

Frank Glazer lived a long and musical life. He passed away on January 13, 2015, at the age of 99. His brother, David Glazer, was also a musician. David was a clarinet player who performed with the New York Woodwind Quintet for over 35 years. Frank Glazer left behind a wonderful legacy of music and teaching.