Clara Lichtenstein

Clara Lichtenstein (ca 1860 – May 3, 1946) was a Hungarian-born pianist and educator.^[1]

She was born in Budapest and studied at the Charlotte Square Institution in Edinburgh, where her uncle George Lichtenstein was a director. In 1880, she performed piano duets with Sir Charles Hallé. She continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in Vienna; she is said to have also studied with Liszt around this time. Following her uncle's death, she became principal of the Charlotte Square Institution. In 1899, she was invited by Lord Strathcona to organize a music department at the Royal Victoria College (later McGill University) in Montreal. In 1904, she became vice-director of the new McGill Conservatorium. She taught piano, voice, music history and music theory until 1929.^[1]

Lichtenstein died in Dorset, England in 1946.^[1]

Her students included Pauline Donalda, Ellen Ballon, Marguerita Spencer and bass singer Edmund Burke.^[1]

Clara Lichtenstein Hall, a small performance hall at McGill University,^[2] was named in her honour.

References