Eleanor Lipkin papers (MSS 69)

Eleanor Lipkin was born in Detroit on 22 June 1930. She began her formal training on the piano at 4, and by age 10 she was performing with local symphonies. In 1946 she was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music (joining her older brother Seymour) where she studied under both Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horzowski. During her years at Curtis and continuing two years after her 1951 graduation Lipkin attended the Marlboro School of Music in Brattleboro, Vermont, co-founded by Serkin. In 1954 Lipkin left for Italy on the first of two Fulbright scholarships which allowed her to spend the following few years touring Europe while simultaneously pursuing her musical study. Upon the completion of her scholarships, Lipkin continued performing in both the United States and Europe before finally settling in Ohio. She became a member of the University of Toledo (Ohio) faculty and formed the Trio di Perugia which toured widely in both the United States and Canada. She also taught and performed both solo and chamber music at Bowling Green University. In 1971, Lipkin’s career came to an abrupt halt when she began experiencing back pain that escalated until she was virtually bedridden, ostensibly ending her performance career. It was only after years of physical therapy that she was able to not only teach again, but resume a concert schedule in the early 90s. Of being a lifelong musician and performer Lipkin said: “There’s a brotherhood among artists that is extremely strong. I’ve been very fortunate that music is a major ingredient in my life.” Lipkin continued teaching and performing until her death in 1995.