Ralph Votapek
Encyclopedia
Ralph Votapek is an American
pianist
notable for winning the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
in 1962.
From the age of nine, he studied music at the Wisconsin Conservatory in Milwaukee, as well as Northwestern University
, Manhattan
, and Juilliard. Votapek was awarded the Naumberg Award in 1959, and performed his debut recital at New York
's Town Hall. After winning the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1962, Votapek signed contracts with RCA
and Sol Hurok
, and made his debut at Carnegie Hall
.
Votapek was the professor emeritus of piano at the Michigan State University College of Music, and served there for 36 years before retiring.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist
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:...
notable for winning the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was first held in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas and is hosted by Van Cliburn Foundation. It was created by Fort Worth area teachers in honor of Van Cliburn, who had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition four years prior with Tchaikovsky's...
in 1962.
From the age of nine, he studied music at the Wisconsin Conservatory in Milwaukee, as well as 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....
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and Juilliard. Votapek was awarded the Naumberg Award in 1959, and performed his debut recital at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Town Hall. After winning the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1962, Votapek signed contracts with RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
and Sol Hurok
Sol Hurok
Sol Hurok was a world-famous 20th century American impresario.-Biography:...
, and made his debut at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
.
Votapek was the professor emeritus of piano at the Michigan State University College of Music, and served there for 36 years before retiring.