Patricia Benkman

    Patricia Benkman was born in San Francisco California. Realized as a pianist prodigy in her youth he won plaudits and praise of the musical world with performances across the United States. She was the daughter of Herbert Benkman, first flutist and piccoloist of the San Francisco Symphony from the 1920s until his passing in 1964. 

Over the course of her early career, she played with the San Francisco under well-known conductors of the day. She studied piano with Lev Shorr a noted pianist and teacher in San Francisco as well as was provided with study under, Gunnar Johannessen, Marcel Mass (She won a distinguished award with international piano study in Europe in Belgium ), Harold Bauer, and Egon Petri (renowned pianist). During her career, she influenced the careers of many in teaching posts at San Francisco Conservatory, Mills College, Indiana University, Lindenwood College, Converse College as well as Chautauqua Institution (during the summers 1957-1974)