Yi-Kwei Sze (1915-1994), professor of voice at Eastman from 1971 to 1980, studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Shanghai. Mr. Sze taught in China for several years before coming to the United States in 1947 to make his debut at Town Hall in New York City. He gave recitals throughout the world, and performed with major orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He sang with the London Symphony, the Paris Conservatory, the Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco Symphonies, the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras, and the New York Philharmonic. He appeared on the stages of La Scala in Milan, London’s Royal Festival Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, the San Francisco Opera House, and the New York City Opera. Mr. Sze recorded for RCA, Mercury, Concert Hall Society, and IRAMAC of Holland. In less than a year he was awarded three coveted prizes for “best” recording: France’s Academie Nationale du Disque Lyrique (1966 and 1967), and the Dutch Edison Prize. For his excellent performances in the Philippines, Mr. Sze was named “Visiting Musician of the Year” in 1966 by the government of the Philippines.
Eastman School of Music
