Mary Lebenzon was a much-beloved Russian pianist and educator. Born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1931, Mary first studied with the most famous pedagogue in Odessa, Berta Reinhold, the same teacher that Elena Berman’s own grandmother studied with. She then moved to Moscow, where she studied with the great Russian pianist and teacher, Alexander Goldenweiser, at the Moscow Conservatory. Mary later became a professor at the Novosibirsk State Conservatory, where she taught for sixty years. During this time, Mary raised up many generations of award-winning pianists and teachers, and it was there that our very own Dr. Igor Resnianski and Dr. Anna Kislitsyna both studied with Mary. On behalf of our dear teachers and friends, the Nelly Berman School of Music would like to honor the life of Professor Mary Lebenzon.
Mary was an exceptional teacher who left her influential mark on her students. Reflecting on his time studying with Mary, Igor writes, “There are people in this world who come to leave a profound impact on others…Her influence on students was fundamental…My five years of conservatory studying with Mary Lebenzon redefined me as a musician, a pianist, and a pedagogue. I am eternally grateful to be one of many who were profoundly influenced by such a colossal figure in the Russian Piano School.”
Regarding her time with Mary, Dr. Anna Kislitsyna writes, “First, I knew Mary Simhovna Lebenzon as an outstanding performer – her sound was different from all other pianists – it was like a treasure, a color, and pure emotion. Every one of her performances was a very special and memorable event. In addition to being an amazing musician, she was also a very warm person – very supportive, kind, and caring. I started studying with Mary Lebenzon while doing my post graduate program at Novosibirsk Conservatory, but she became a role model for me a long time before that. I learned so much by being her student, assistant, and then colleague at the Novosibirsk Conservatory, and I am forever grateful for having this experience in my life.”
Mary was truly a well-regarded teacher, however her work as a performer should not be overlooked. Even at the age of 84, Mary was regularly performing and delighting audiences with her beautiful and skillful playing. Below you can listen to several videos of Mary playing Chopin’s Mazurkas at the Novosibirsk Special School for Gifted Children.
After learning about Mary’s life and work, our school director, Elena Berman, writes, “It gives me great joy to hear her speak. She is not only from Odessa, the city of my birth, but also studied with the same teacher as my grandmother had – with Berta Reinhold. She reminds me so much of my grandmother, a wonderful pianist and a professor of piano at the Stolyarsky Institute.”
To listen to Mary talk more about her life and work in the Russian language, please click on the video below.
Mary’s influence reaches far beyond her students, and has truly touched the lives of teachers and musicians everywhere! Dr. Anna Kislitsyna puts it well, “Mary Simhovna Lebenzon will be deeply missed by her many students, colleagues, and audiences, and will forever be in our hearts.”
We at NBS honor the life and work of Mary Lebenzon, as we reflect on her musicianship and her great impact on so many!
