Florence Kirsch Du Brul
Encyclopedia
Florence Kirsch Du Brul (1915–July 2, 2005) was a concert pianist
and master piano teacher and member of Chicago
society in the mid-20th century.
Born on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1915, Florence Kirsch as a little girl studied with master pianist Silvio Scionti and composer Howard Wells, and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
at age 12. The CSO’s conductor, Frederick Stock
, recommended her to the great Austrian classical pianist and composer Artur Schnabel
, and Kirsch was sent to Berlin, Germany, where Schnabel was living, so she could study with the great master during her teenage years.
After the Nazis came to power, Kirsch was denied permission to leave Germany, and so was forced to escape to Italy leaving all her possessions behind. She returned to the United States in 1937, and made her professional debut in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall that year.
Kirsch became a classical concert pianist, and performed on several classical records, including neo-classic Swiss composer Ernest Bloch
’s Voice in the Wilderness, and Russian composer Igor Stravinsky
’s Les Noces.
Living in New York City in the 1940s while performing and teaching, she met and married Dr. E. Lloyd Du Brul
, an anatomist, physical anthropologist, and educator. After Dr. Du Brul served in General George Patton’s Third Army in World War II, he received a faculty appointment at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
.
The couple purchased a stately 19th century home in Lincoln Park, Chicago
and filled it with art, sculpture, native handicrafts, and other memorabilia from their many trips abroad. They threw legendary parties, and the Du Brul home was “a welcoming scientific, artistic, and intellectual haven for some of the finest minds of the 20th century,” said Dr. Bruce S. Graham, Dean of the College.
“To dine at the Du Bruls’ home was a feast for the palate and for the eyes in the presentation of dinner,” said Dr. Thomas Lakars, Assistant Professor of Oral Biology. “To have visited the Du Bruls’ home for a garden party or for dinner at their banquet table was a treat never to be forgotten.”
Throughout her life, Mrs. Du Brul traveled around the world lecturing about piano and teaching master classes, where she collaborated with and/or taught several notable pianists, such as Lucia Barrenechea of Brazil and the late Donald Walker, Professor of Piano at Northern Illinois University
. Even in her later years, Mrs. Du Brul taught piano at Northwestern University
and performed on WFMT-FM Radio in Chicago. At the time of her passing, Mrs. Du Brul continued to hold Emeritus Professor status at the Music Institute of Chicago. Mrs. Du Brul also enjoyed gardening and raising standard poodles.
Dr. and Mrs. Du Brul donated their collection of human, animal, and prehistoric skeletal artifacts, prepared for teaching graduate-level oral anatomy, to the College in 1996. “It’s an absolutely amazing collection,” said Dr. Anne Grauer of the Loyola University Chicago
Department of Anthropology. “An outstanding resource for teaching and research.”
In 2004, the College dedicated a new Du Brul Archives of Oral Anatomy to house the collection.
Florence Kirsch Du Brul died on July 2, 2005.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and master piano teacher and member of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
society in the mid-20th century.
Born on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1915, Florence Kirsch as a little girl studied with master pianist Silvio Scionti and composer Howard Wells, and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
at age 12. The CSO’s conductor, Frederick Stock
Frederick Stock
Frederick Stock was a German conductor and composer.-Biography:...
, recommended her to the great Austrian classical pianist and composer Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura...
, and Kirsch was sent to Berlin, Germany, where Schnabel was living, so she could study with the great master during her teenage years.
After the Nazis came to power, Kirsch was denied permission to leave Germany, and so was forced to escape to Italy leaving all her possessions behind. She returned to the United States in 1937, and made her professional debut in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall that year.
Kirsch became a classical concert pianist, and performed on several classical records, including neo-classic Swiss composer Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch was a Swiss-born American composer.-Life:Bloch was born in Geneva and began playing the violin at age 9. He began composing soon afterwards. He studied music at the conservatory in Brussels, where his teachers included the celebrated Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe...
’s Voice in the Wilderness, and Russian composer Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
’s Les Noces.
Living in New York City in the 1940s while performing and teaching, she met and married Dr. E. Lloyd Du Brul
E. Lloyd Du Brul
E. Lloyd Du Brul was a world-renowned anatomist, physical anthropologist and educator, and the developer of the science of biomechanics of the head and neck....
, an anatomist, physical anthropologist, and educator. After Dr. Du Brul served in General George Patton’s Third Army in World War II, he received a faculty appointment at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
- About :The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry evolved from the Columbian Dental College, founded in Chicago in 1891.The College informally affiliated with the University of Illinois in 1901, and was chartered as an official College of the University in 1913...
.
The couple purchased a stately 19th century home in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park, is one of the 77 community areas on Chicago, Illinois North Side, USA. Named after Lincoln Park, a vast park bordering Lake Michigan, the community area is anchored by the Lincoln Park Zoo and DePaul University...
and filled it with art, sculpture, native handicrafts, and other memorabilia from their many trips abroad. They threw legendary parties, and the Du Brul home was “a welcoming scientific, artistic, and intellectual haven for some of the finest minds of the 20th century,” said Dr. Bruce S. Graham, Dean of the College.
“To dine at the Du Bruls’ home was a feast for the palate and for the eyes in the presentation of dinner,” said Dr. Thomas Lakars, Assistant Professor of Oral Biology. “To have visited the Du Bruls’ home for a garden party or for dinner at their banquet table was a treat never to be forgotten.”
Throughout her life, Mrs. Du Brul traveled around the world lecturing about piano and teaching master classes, where she collaborated with and/or taught several notable pianists, such as Lucia Barrenechea of Brazil and the late Donald Walker, Professor of Piano at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
. Even in her later years, Mrs. Du Brul taught piano at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and performed on WFMT-FM Radio in Chicago. At the time of her passing, Mrs. Du Brul continued to hold Emeritus Professor status at the Music Institute of Chicago. Mrs. Du Brul also enjoyed gardening and raising standard poodles.
Dr. and Mrs. Du Brul donated their collection of human, animal, and prehistoric skeletal artifacts, prepared for teaching graduate-level oral anatomy, to the College in 1996. “It’s an absolutely amazing collection,” said Dr. Anne Grauer of the Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
Department of Anthropology. “An outstanding resource for teaching and research.”
In 2004, the College dedicated a new Du Brul Archives of Oral Anatomy to house the collection.
Florence Kirsch Du Brul died on July 2, 2005.