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American concert pianist (1884–1970) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Winifred Byrd (May 24, 1884 in Salem, Oregon – April 3, 1970 in Los Angeles, California)[1] was an American concert pianist and educator. Byrd attended Willamette University and graduated from New England Conservatory (NEC) in 1905. While studying at NEC she won the Spaulding scholarship.[2] Byrd taught for a time at NEC shortly after her graduation.[2]
Winifred Byrd | |
|---|---|
 Winifred Byrd, from a 1919 publication | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 24, 1884 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Died | 3 April 1970 (aged 85) Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, Educator |
Byrd studied in Boston with Madame Hopekirk, Carl Baermann, and Theresa Carreño and eventually taught music at Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan.[2]
Byrd made her New York debut on February 27, 1918, and went on to perform in Chicago, Boston, Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco.[3] Impresario Aaron Richmond presented Byrd in Boston in 1925, billing her as "America's Pianist." James Huneker, reviewing a Byrd recital for The New York Times on November 4, 1918, wrote, "She blazes with temperament. She has the energy of a demon." Hunecker also noted Byrd's "Buster Brown coiffure".[4]
Byrd made at least ten Duo-Art reproducing piano rolls, including Franz Liszt's "Dance of the Gnomes", from Concert Étude No. 2, and Chopin's Preludes, Opus 28, No. 1 in C major and No. 23 in F major, for the Aeolian Company.[5]
In July 1925, Byrd sustained fractured ribs when she was struck by a car on New York's 5th Avenue.[6]
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