In addition to being a professor of music at The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, she also taught at the University of Maryland at College Park and the Eastman School of Music. In recent years, Ms. Koscielny lived with her husband, pianist and former Hartt professor Raymond Hanson, in western Massachusetts.
Ms. Koscielny had an very active performing career. She performed solo recitals, chamber ensembles and with orchestras throughout the United States, in Mexico, South America, Europe and Asia. She won many awards and prizes including first prize in the Kosciuszko Chopin Competition in New York City and first prize in the National Guild of Piano Teachers Recording Competition. She received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Cecile Genhart, then a Performer’s Certificate and Master of Music Degree from the Manhattan School of Music studying with Robert Goldsand. She has also studied with Frank Mannheimer and she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for study in Vienna.
Her London debut in 1972 was received with great critical success. The Daily Telegraph described the performance as follows: “Fire and feeling. Outstanding interpretations. Power and control. This was a remarkable debut.” Koscielny also performed the complete cycle of Beethoven Piano Sonatas in several states including Connecticut (University of Hartford, in 1984 and again in 2000), Maryland (University of Maryland at College Park), Louisiana (Centenary College in Shreveport), Massachusetts (Gordon College in Wenham) as well as many from the cycle in numerous other cities. At Yale University, Koscielny performed several solo recitals and also the complete cycle of Beethoven Sonatas for Violin and Piano with Yale faculty violinist Syoko Aki.
Koscielny performed for the Washington Performing Arts Society at Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art, both in several recitals and with orchestra, and the Phillips Collection on numerous occasions. In chamber concerts, she performed with the New Hungarian, American, New World, Guarneri and Emerson String Quartets.
She will be missed by generations of students she influenced.
Anne was a very dear friend, a vibrant person and brilliant musician. She was a member of the Kapell Competition jury in 1985 when we met. I was indeed fortunate to know her and listen to her play from the 32 sonatas by Beethoven on several occasions when she would play through for friends. She was married to Ray Hanson, one of the most respected teachers and formidable pianists of the 20th century, and I remember their peaceful retreat in New England–the farm house, where we could practice and take in the beautiful mountain air without any distractions. Her teaching touched many lives, as well as her performances.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memories, Jeffrey.
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