Gina Bachauer

Interested in piano at a young age, Bachauer graduated from the Athens Conservatory and studied under Alfred Cortot and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

She played hundreds of concerts for the Allied troops in the Middle East during World War II while she lived in Egypt.

She spent a lot of time touring the United States and Europe, giving over 100 concerts each year.

The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation was named in honor of her contributions to the musical world.

[9] She died in 1976 of a heart attack at the Athens Festival, on the day she was to appear as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C.[10] Bachauer toured the American and European continents throughout her career, giving over 100 concerts each year.

[13][14] After her studies under Cortot and Rachmaninoff, she toured Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Egypt, but the outbreak of World War II stranded her in Cairo.

[19] In 1973, she took a short break from touring to judge the American Music Scholarship Association's piano competition and worked with the students who competed.

[21] Princess Irene performed with Bachauer on some of her tours in the United States, including concerts in Salt Lake City, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Dallas.

In response, Bachauer brought Princess Irene to perform a two-piano concerto with her as part of a Dallas Symphony Orchestra program.

The novelty of a Greek princess combined with the popularity of Bachauer brought in a huge audience, as well as $100,000 for the struggling orchestra.

[5] The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation's programs include educational outreach and prestigious competitions.