Maryla Jonas

Jonas was born into a Jewish family in Warsaw, Poland, debuting her pianistic talent at the age of 8 or 9.

Her touring career proved successful and paved the way for a 13th-place finish in the second II International Chopin Piano Competition in 1932.

In 1933 Jonas won the Beethoven prize of Vienna and following her victory established a successful European-based performance career.

Jonas took the German officer's advice and traveled to Berlin on foot, walking several hundred miles short of food and without recourse to safe shelter.

Jonas traveled from Berlin to Lisbon and finally settled in Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil.