Since Nelita True made her debut at age seventeen with the Chicago Symphony in Orchestra Hall and her New York debut with the Juilliard Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall, her career has taken her to the major cities of Western and Eastern Europe, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Iceland, New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and to Hong Kong and Singapore, as well all fifty states in America. She was a visiting professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, performing and conducting master classes and has been in the People's Republic of China fourteen times for recitals and master classes. She has played recitals on French national television and on Australian national radio. Her most recent recital in Boston was cited as one of the "Ten Best Classical Performances of the Year." Ms. True has been a jury member for the China International Piano Competition (Beijing), the Queen Sonja International Piano Competition (Oslo), the National piano Competition in Brazil, the Horowitz Competition (Kiev), the Concours de Musique in Canada, the PTNA (Tokyo), the Lev Vlassenko Competition in Australia, and the Gina Bachauer, New Orleans, Hilton Head, and William Kapell International Piano Competitions in the U.S. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan with Helen Titus, Ms. True went on to Juilliard to study with Sascha Gorodnitzki, and then earned the DMA with Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Conservatory, In Paris, she studied with Nadia Boulanger on a Fulbright grant. Formerly Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland, Ms. True is currently Professor of Piano at the Eastman School of Music. Many of her students have won top prizes at national and international competitions, including an unprecedented five First Prizes in national MTNA competitions. Ms. True was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, the Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Teaching at Eastman, the 2002 Achievement Award from MTNA, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from National Keyboard Pedagogy Conference (USA). SH Productions of Kansas City produced a series of four videotapes, "Nelita True at Eastman," featuring her performances, lectures, and teaching. These videos are currently being seen on five continents. She has been the subject of feature articles in Clavier, Piano Today, The European Piano Teachers' Journal, and was the subject of the cover story of Keyboard Companion. An interview with Ms. True appears in the latest edition of James Bastien's "How to Teach Piano Successfully," along with interviews with the legendary Rosina Lhevinne and Adele Marcus. Ms. True has been invited to record over 100 works for Advance, Mark, Educo, and Academy Records.
Nelita True
Eastman School of Music
26 Gibbs Street
Rochester, NY 14627
585.274.1520
ntrue@esm.rochester.edu
by Nelita True
Because Marvin Blickenstaff has been my admired friend and colleague for many years, it is a special privilege for me to pay tribute to him and to thank him for all that he does for our profession. Often, when I think about him, "selfless integrity" flashes across my mind. His high personal standards infuse every aspect of his professional and personal lives. He is congenitally incapable of dishonesty, always thinks of others before himself, and generously promotes the careers of his colleagues.
As everyone knows, Marvin brings the highest levels of professionalism and musicianship to his work. He possesses a rare gift for communicating meaningfully with people of all ages. Although many musicians may work well with advanced students and others with intermediate or elementary students, what sets Marvin apart is his ability to work effectively with all levels. How I have marveled when he transforms the performances of students, often in a matter of a few minutes. I remember a particularly challenging master class at the International Workshops in Austria, where he gave a group lesson to German-speaking students for an English-speaking audience. Marvin spoke to the students in German and then translated for us. It was a smashing success, and the students could not have been more responsive, or more delighted.
Perhaps what impresses me most about Marvin is his total devotion to piano pedagogy, completely devoid of any egocentricity. He never gets mired in methods and procedures, but, instead, focuses exclusively on the music. His frequent lectures reveal meticulous preparation and comprehensive knowledge. I learn from every lecture he gives - and I have heard many. His imagination and creativity seem in endless supply.
We owe Marvin an incalculable debt for his leadership in reviving the National Keyboard Pedagogy Conference, along with Louise Goss and Sam Holland. The large number of teachers and students in attendance is clear testimony to the vision inherent in these conferences.
Even with his busy schedule of teaching, workshops, and leading the Frances Clark Center, Marvin has managed to maintain a high level in his own piano performances. He proved himself early in his career as the First Prize winner in the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, which led to performances in a number of different venues in the United States.
How fortunate we are to have this multi-talented man of such impeccable character in our profession. Long may he continue to inspire us!
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