Friends of Maple Grove sponsored a Concert to Honor and Celebrate the 130th Birthday of Classical Pianist Rosina Lhevinne on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Rosina Lhevinne was born on March 29, 1880 in Russia. She graduated from the Imperial Conservatory in 1898 and won the Gold Medal in piano. She married pianist Josef Lhevinne and formed a legendary musical partnership. They both joined the faculty of the Juilliard School. Among her most famous students was Van Cliburn, the first American to win the Tchaikovsky Competition. In 1963, at age 82, Rosina made her debut at the New York Philharmonic under conductor Leonard Bernstein. She continued to teach at the Juilliard School until she died at age 96. The Lhevinnes were interred at Maple Grove Cemetery, Kew Gardens New York. The March 27 Concert Performers included: Concert Pianist Steven Graff , Swedish pianist Ingrid Emanuelsson, Swedish violinist Stefan Waldemarson, and Master of Ceremony Mariel Badillo.

Concert Pianist Steven Graff practices on the Maple Grove Steinway Grand

before the start of the concert celebration. Bottom photo shows the concert in progress.