Rubin Goldmark

Rubin Goldmark (August 15, 1872 – March 6, 1936) was an American composer, pianist, and educator. Although in his time he was an often-performed American nationalist composer, his works are seldom played now. Today he is best known as the teacher of other important composers, including Aaron Copland and George Gershwin.

Early life

Rubin Goldmark was born in New York City in 1872. He was the nephew of the Viennese composer Karl Goldmark. Goldmark completed his undergraduate studies at City College in New York. After completing his studies in the United States in 1889, Goldmark traveled to Austria, where he studied at the Vienna Conservatory until 1891. There he studied piano and composition, the former with Livonius, the latter with Johann Nepomuk Fuchs.

Return to the United States

After the conclusion of his studies in Vienna, Goldmark returned to United States. From 1891 to 1893 he taught piano and music theory at the National Conservatory in New York City. While in New York, Goldmark also studied composition with Antonín Dvořák and piano with Rafael Joseffy. Goldmark moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, hoping to improve his poor health, and was the director of the Colorado Conservatory of Music from 1895 to 1901.