[4] At the urging of Ignace Jan Paderewski and Josef Hofmann, who had heard Abram in concert, his parents enrolled him in the Curtis Institute, where he studied with David Saperton.
The well-known pianist and Leschetizky pupil Arthur Shattuck also mentored Abram for many years.
[3] As a result of winning these awards Abram debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall performing the MacDowell D minor concerto.
During World War II, Abram was stationed with a special services unit in San Antonio, Texas.
[3][6] In 1948, Abram gave the American premiere of Benjamin Britten's piano concerto in Salt Lake City, Utah.