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Ozan Marsh, Legendary Concert Pianist 1920-1992 
(Biography of My Father from Data Collected from his son)

Ozan Marsh  was born (June 25, 1920 in PasadenaCalifornia – March 15, 1992) and was a pianist active in classical concert performances throughout the world as well as across the United States.

A disciple of RachmaninoffHorowitzPetriCasadesus and von Sauer, the late Ozan Marsh has received the plaudits of audiences and critics around the world, particularly for his performances of Liszt and Chopin. He was also noted for his performances of the piano works of Kabalevsky.

During his career, Marsh won critical acclaim in recital appearances and as soloist with many of the world’s most distinguished orchestras: among them, the New York PhilharmonicPhiladelphia OrchestraBoston PopsBoston SymphonySan Francisco SymphonyVienna PhilharmonicWarsaw P hilharmonicSt. Petersburg Philharmonic,Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal PhilharmonicLondon Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestras, to name a few.

He was born into a family of a noted violinist Raymond Solomon Marsh and russian theatric actress Eltka Franceska Tchereginska. He began studies at  a very young age beginning studies in violin and piano, and making his orchestra debut in Long Beach California with the piano concertos of Haydn, and Chopin. His early training began in Pasedena California soon graduating to studies in piano with Leopold Godowsky, Rubin Goldmark, and others. Before the second world war he studied in Europe at Fontainebleau [1] with Robert and Gaby Casadesus, Isidore Phillipp, Nadia Boulanger, and Igor Stravinsky in composition/counterpoint. He traveled to Vienna and worked with Emile Von Sauer (one of the last surviving pupils of Franz Liszt) and continued study with Egon Petri during summer sessions in Zakopane, Poland. Marsh gave his Paris and Warsaw debut (Warsaw Conservatory) in 1938 only months before the outbreak of the war. His first Town Hall New York debut was in 1939 and received fine praise from the New York Times. During WWII he served in the Navy's "Lighter than Air" dirigible squadron as well as a final post as chaplains assistant because of a disability caused by the war.

During his career he played over 200 concert appearances with the Boston Pops Orchestra (in Boston and on nationwide concert tours), Appeared a number of times with the New York Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as well as gave hundreds of solo concerts throughout the United States under Columbia Artists Management, on their Community Concerts Series. During his life he had the opportunity to tour Russia (former Soviet Union 1980)at the invitation of the Soviet Government and at the invitation of one of that nations foremost senior composers Dimitri Kabalevsky. He toured South Korea three time and China PRC twice playing solo concerts as well as appearing with orchestra with the Beijing (China) Opera Orchestra.

Ozan Marsh coupled an outstanding performing career with an equally distinguished academic one. He served on the faculties of such major institutions as Indiana University,Manhattan School of MusicButler UniversitySt. Lawrence UniversityUniversity of Arizona and the Chautauqua Institution. He participated in judging various international piano competitions including the Van Cliburn, the Franz Liszt, the National Federation of Music Clubs and many others. Some of his students include Donna Amato, Dr. Janet (Adolphson) Colburn, Edgar Coleman,and David Syme among others. He was also the President of the Pianist’s Foundation of America, (formerly the Southwest Pianists Foundation) an organization devoted to furthering of the careers of promising young pianists. He gave a great deal of his time to the much needed project of furthering the goals of those pianists, many who have gone on to wonderful careers themselves.

Ozan Marsh has recorded for RCA (His Masters Voice), CBS (Columbia), PFA and VLR Records, the Voice of America and the Boston Symphony Transcription Library.

Discography[edit]

His discography includes:

  • Hungarian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra RCA (His Masters Voice)Victrola, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra 1959
  • Re-Released several times on RCA "Nothing but the Beer","Three Concert Gems" CD and others.
  • Dmitri Kabalevsky Concerto #2 for Piano and Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic of London, CSP Columbia Records,Collectors Edition
  • Dmitri Kabalevsky Preludes and Rondo, CSP Columbia Records, Collectors Edition
  • Liszt Piano Concerto #1 in Eflat, Spanish Rapsody (Busoni), Totentanz (Solo Piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Released on VOX Cum Laude, Allegro Records and Concert Artists Records (UK)
  • Other Recordings VLR:
  • Liszt B Minor Sonata, 12 Hungarian Rhapsody
  • "A Century of Treasure" All Liszt Recording
  • (SPF Records) Chopin 2nd Piano Sonata and Mazurkas
Live recordings[edit]
  • Rachmaninoff Concerto #1 (1960)
  • Rachmaninoff Concerto #2 (Un-Released)
  • Kabalevsky Concerto #2 (1960)
  • Liszt B Minor Sonata (1983)
  • Rachmaninoff 2nd Sonata (1983)
  • Scriabin 7th Sonata (1983)
  • Kabalevsky Piano Concerto #2 Moscow Symphony (1980)
  • And More...
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