Edith
Edith Stearns Trask
Edith Stearns Trask (performances under the name of Edith Stearns), age 99, passed away on November 13, 2016 in her home at Foxhill Village in Westwood MA. Born March 4, 1917 in Waltham, MA she had a long and successful career as a concert pianist. A graduate of Boston University, she was faculty and chairman of the piano department for 42 years.
Ms. Stearns studied with Alfredo Fondarcaro and Robert Casadesus. She was first prize winner at age 16 of the Chickering Piano contest in New York where 2nd place was awarded to Leonard Bernstein. She gave extensive solo and orchestral performances throughout Europe, the United States and Canada. Ms. Stearns was also a soloist several times for the Boston Pops under conductor Arthur Fiedler.
As the first woman chosen by the United States State Department of Cultural Programs in the 1950's & 1960's, she performed over 50 recitals in England, Holland, Austria and Portugal. She also performed radio broadcasts in England, Holland and Portugal. These programs were designed to introduce American contemporary compositions to the European listener.
Ms. Stearns was a director and pianist of the Sears Gallery Chamber Music Concerts and has performed extensively in the field of chamber music. She presented several television series for channel 2 and radio performances for WGBH and WBUR.
Reviews of her concerts include "the distinguished soloist made a most vivid impression upon us with her great and perfect technique and her refined manner of interpretation". Journal de Noticias, Porto, Portugal. And……."Edith Stearns plays contemporary music well….has a fine technique and keen musical sense…that measured control which is the mark of a true musician". The Christian Science Monitor. And Ms. Stearns played the whole program with earnestness and insight that made musical lines clear….she is a pianist to keep your eyes on" New York Times.
Ms. Stearns Trask is survived by her sister, Hope S. Anderson of Needham MA and her niece, Carolyn Anderson Pope of Westwood MA and family. She was predeceased by her husband Charles Taylor Trask.
Services were private however a family concert in her honor will be performed in the spring 2017.
Gifts in Edith's memory may be made to Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation, 8 Phillips Drive, Westford, MA 01886
Ms. Stearns studied with Alfredo Fondarcaro and Robert Casadesus. She was first prize winner at age 16 of the Chickering Piano contest in New York where 2nd place was awarded to Leonard Bernstein. She gave extensive solo and orchestral performances throughout Europe, the United States and Canada. Ms. Stearns was also a soloist several times for the Boston Pops under conductor Arthur Fiedler.
As the first woman chosen by the United States State Department of Cultural Programs in the 1950's & 1960's, she performed over 50 recitals in England, Holland, Austria and Portugal. She also performed radio broadcasts in England, Holland and Portugal. These programs were designed to introduce American contemporary compositions to the European listener.
Ms. Stearns was a director and pianist of the Sears Gallery Chamber Music Concerts and has performed extensively in the field of chamber music. She presented several television series for channel 2 and radio performances for WGBH and WBUR.
Reviews of her concerts include "the distinguished soloist made a most vivid impression upon us with her great and perfect technique and her refined manner of interpretation". Journal de Noticias, Porto, Portugal. And……."Edith Stearns plays contemporary music well….has a fine technique and keen musical sense…that measured control which is the mark of a true musician". The Christian Science Monitor. And Ms. Stearns played the whole program with earnestness and insight that made musical lines clear….she is a pianist to keep your eyes on" New York Times.
Ms. Stearns Trask is survived by her sister, Hope S. Anderson of Needham MA and her niece, Carolyn Anderson Pope of Westwood MA and family. She was predeceased by her husband Charles Taylor Trask.
Services were private however a family concert in her honor will be performed in the spring 2017.
Gifts in Edith's memory may be made to Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation, 8 Phillips Drive, Westford, MA 01886
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