Ruth Slenczynska (born January 15, 1925, Sacramento, California), American pianist with Polish roots. Her Polish father, Joseph Slenczynski (Józef Ślenczyński), was a violinist. Pushed by her father and starting at age three, Slenczynska was forced to practice the piano relentlessly. When she was four, she began her piano studies in Europe, later studying with Artur Schnabel, Egon Petri, Alfred Cortot, Josef Hofmann, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. She played her debut in Berlin at age six and made her debut in Paris with a full orchestra at seven years of age.
Her Polish father was Joseph Slenczynski (Józef Ślenczyński), a violinist, who pushed her to start piano playing at age three, and to practice the piano relentlessly. When she was four, Slenczynska began her piano studies in Europe, later studying with Artur Schnabel, Egon Petri, Alfred Cortot, Josef Hofmann, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. She played her debut in Berlin at age six and made her debut in Paris with a full orchestra at seven years of age.
Slenczynska attended the University of California, Berkeley, and in 1964, accepted a full-time position at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) as Artist in Residence, a title she retained until 1987. A large assortment of her memorabilia and recordings constitutes a Special Collection in the Lovejoy Library at SIUE. In 1957 she published a book of memoirs, Forbidden Childhood, which deals with life as a child prodigy, and a book on piano technique, Music at Your Fingertips: Aspects of Pianoforte Technique.
