| Steven Degroote |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT STEVEN DEGROOTE | |
| 1953 births | |
| degroote, steven | |
| 1989 deaths | |
| classical pianists | |
| south african pianists | |
| arizona state university faculty | |
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Steven DeGroote was born in Johannesburg , South Africa where his father was the conductor of the Cape Town University Symphony. As a youngster, DeGroote toured South Africa performing trios with his father on violin and brother on cello. He trained at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels , graduating in 1971 with first prize in piano. In 1972, DeGroote entered the Curtis Institute Of Music in Philadelphia where he studied with Rudolf Serkin and Seymour Lipkin, among others. He graduated in 1975. In 1976, he was a finalist in the International Leventritt Competition in New York City . In May 1977, DeGroote won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York. In September of that year, DeGroote was awarded the Grand Prize at the Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. In that same competition, he also took prizes for Best Performance of a Commissioned Work and Best Performance of Chamber Music. He gave his New York debut recital on November 8, 1977 at the 92nd Street Y . His Van Cliburn Prize Carnegie Hall debut recital was held on December 12, 1977. After winning the Van Cliburn, DeGroote performed in the US and Europe with many of the top orchestras as well as in recital. In 1981, he joined the faculty of Arizona State University and divided his time between performing and teaching. DeGroote was an amateur pilot. In 1985 he survived a severe crash while attempting to land near Phoenix . His lung and aorta were punctured. After extensive surgery and rehabilitation, DeGroote recuperated and resumed flying and piano playing. DeGroote was employed as an artist-in-residence at Texas Christian University and was living in Fort Worth in 1989 when he returned to South Africa to visit family. There, he was hospitalized with Influenza and Pneumonia , and died in Johannesburg on May 22, 1989 from inflammation of the liver. REFERENCES ''The New York Times'': May 24, 1989. |
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