Born: 1912 (Detroit, MI)

Died: 2003 (North Carolina)

Pianist Judith Sidorsky (Grenell) was a child prodigy who began her musical career in Detroit, MI. At age 12, she was awarded a Steinway Grand Piano as the winner of the Detroit Piano Contest. Sidorsky received a fellowship to attend the Juilliard Graduate School where she studied with Olga Samaroff Stokowski.

Sidorsky was named a Naumburg Award Winner in 1935. Orchestras she played with include: Detroit Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra as well as a concert in Carnegie Hall.

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Excerpt from The New York Times review, February 11, 1936

Judith Sidorsky, Pianist, in Debut

Winner of the Naumburg Fund Award Heard in Program Non-Conventional. Old Irish Airs Are Given

"She has an excellent techical equipment in the form of good wrists, resounding octaves, fleat fingers, a full tone..She has too, the enthusiasm of a young woman, who knows, as an interpreter what she wants to do, and why...Miss Sidorsky pleased her audience. The reality of her talent is manifest." Olin Downes

A thirteen year old Detroit miss is just recovering from the thrill of being presented with a grand piano, a trip to New York, and a place among the immortals with the title of Miss Musical Detroit. This brilliant little student of music was the victor in an open contest held by the Detroit Music Trades Association in the ballroom of the Book-Cadillac Hotel. There were seven other contestants and the committee of five distinguished judges chosen from different cities throughout the country were unanimous in awarding the prize to the smiling young lady. .Miss Sidorsky, though young, is a veteran performer, having taken part in a number of competitions of a musical nature. She is the champion of the public high school division in her city. When she took her place before the piano, it was evident that even at this early age she had acquired a considerable amount of poise and stage presence, for she smoothed her attractive pink frock carefully, wiped her hands on her handkerchief, ran her fingers over the keys and then started to play with confidence and verve. The selection which was played by the winner was the C Sharp Minor Scherzo by Chopin. And so well was it executed, that President W. C. Heaton of the Auto Pneumatic Action Company, manufacturers of the Welte-MignonLicensee reproducing actions, arranged to have Miss Sidorsky and a chaperone come to New York at his company’s expense for the purpose of recording this number for the De Luxe Reproducing Roll Corporation. Much of the credit for the excellent playing of this thirteen year old girl must be given to her teacher, Bendetson Netzorg, well-known pianist and instructor, who records exclusively for the Welte-Mignon Licensee. The master may well be proud of his pupil. Without a doubt such wonderful records as have come to this little girl are well worth the many hours of practice and careful concentration which she must have devoted to perfecting herself in her chosen field. Other young people throughout the country should be given similar opportunities—music and the trades allied with it would surely benefit.

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