Dora Zaslavsky

Dora Zaslavsky Koch (July 18, 1904 – September 9, 1987)[1] was a Russian-born American pianist who was one of the first graduates of and later a teacher at the Manhattan School of Music.

[6] The family story goes that Zaslavsky's musical talent was discovered "thanks to a large toy piano with real black and white keys" that her father, a peddler, had brought home for her.

Zaslavsky continued her studies with Wilhelm Backhaus in Philadelphia and Paris, then returned to New York to take up her teaching career at the Manhattan School, where she taught alongside Constance Keene.

He was accepted into medical school but dropped out after one semester, entering Columbia University the following fall to study philosophy.

"[12] Koch stayed first with a friend, then moved to a room next door to the one at 56th & Madison in which Zaslavsky was living with her sister Fay.