The Foundation is named in honor of the founder’s grandfather, Gregor Piatigorsky, who was a world-renowned cellist.

Gregor Piatigorsky was born on April 17, 1903 in Ekaterinoslav, Ukraine. He began the cello at the age of 7, and shortly thereafter supported his entire family by playing in cafés, brothels and silent movie houses. Two years later, Piatigorsky left home and made his way to the Moscow Conservatory of Music. By the age of fourteen he was both principal cellist of the Bolshoi Opera Orchestra and a member of the famed “Beethoven String Quartet”, later renamed the “Lenin String Quartet.” In 1921, unhappy with the oppressive political climate in Russia, Piatigorsky escaped into Poland.

He briefly served as principal cellist of the Warsaw Symphony and then made his way to Leipzig to join the class of famed cellist and pedagogue, Julius Klengel. Following his studies in Leipzig, Piatigorsky moved to Berlin to seek employment and eventually became the principal cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Throughout this period of orchestral playing Piatigorsky continued to perform often as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician.

Shortly before WWII broke out in Europe, Piatigorsky with his wife and baby daughter, were on the last ship to leave France, just escaping Hitler’s invasion. They settled in Elizabethtown, NY. A few years later Piatigorsky was appointed to the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music and the family moved to Philadelphia. In 1949, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he would live for the rest of his life. He first began teaching at UCLA and later in 1962 joining violinist Jascha Heifetz on the faculty of the University of Southern California where he spent much of his time teaching and performing chamber music. 

He had an extensive career as a cello soloist, beginning in the mid-1920s and continuing for 50 years. Piatigorsky performed with the great orchestras and conductors of the day and played chamber music, toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He made hundreds of recordings and appeared on radio, television, and film. After a unique and remarkable career, Gregor Piatigorsky died at his home in California on August 6, 1976. His warmth, generosity of spirit and larger than life personality remain in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.

For more information please visit the Piatigorsky Archives at the Colburn School.