Anthony di Bonaventura

Anthony di Bonaventura (November 12, 1929  – November 12, 2012) was an American pianist and Professor of Music at Boston University's College of Fine Arts for 40 years. He was the director of a Piano Institute at Colby College Piano Institute (1978–2003) and then at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (2004–12).

Bonaventura was born in Follansbee, West Virginia, and was a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and a student of Isabelle Vengerova. Director, Summer Piano Institute, Colby College and later West Chester University. Anthony di Bonaventura has given performances in 28 countries, including appearances with the London Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony. He has given solo recitals at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Concertgebouw, and Musikverein, as well as performances at festivals of Spoleto, Ann Arbor, Saratoga, Bergen, Lucca, Zagreb, and Donaueschingen. World premieres of specially written works by Berio, Kelemen, Persichetti, and Ginastera. Recordings for Columbia, RCA Connoisseur Society, and Sine Qua Non.

Anthony di Bonaventura began piano studies at the age of three years and gave the first professional concert at the age of four years. Then he won a scholarship to New York's Music School Settlement at six. At thirteen, he appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic. At sixteen, he became the pupil of the celebrated Russian teacher Madame Isabelle Vengerova and later entered the Curtis Institute of Music, where he graduated with highest honors.

Enthusiastic acclaim by critics and audiences came early in his career. After his Washington debut, Paul Hume of the Washington Post wrote: "He can stand with the great players of Mozart's keyboard music." His brilliant performances in an early European tour led to his selection by the great conductor Otto Klemperer to perform the complete Beethoven Concerti at the London Beethoven Festival.

...
Wikipedia