Matthay Addendum

There is, I think, a bit of an omission in Gerig's chapter on Matthay and the English School, particularly where the upper Midwest is concerned.

While Myra Hess is undoubtedly the most famous concert artist Matthay's teaching produced, one of his most important disciples deserves mention with regards to the piano landscape in the United States - Frank Mannheimer.

There is a great deal of biographical information on Frank Mannheimer here at the Matthay Organization website.

Of interest to those here in Iowa City is that Mr. Mannheimer, upon returning to the United States, taught summer classes at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. He was concertized and taught in the Chicago area, and held additional classes later in Duluth, MN.

Among Mr. Mannheimer's students were John Perry (professor of piano at the University of Southern California, who also studied with Cecile Genhart, who I believe also has a Matthay connection), Constance Carroll, and Anne Kocielny (formerly at the University of Maryland.)

I would encourage everyone to watch this video of Anne Kocielny discussing Beethoven. At the end of the video, there is a brief clip of her playing, and I think you'll see in it some of the ideas that Matthay and Mannheimer cultivated in their students.