Passing of a Casals pupil, 80
RIPWe have learned belatedly of the death from Alzheimers complications of the cellist Gayle Mae Smith, a pupil of Casals in Puerto Rico and of Piatigorsky in Los Angeles (pictured).
She enjoyed an international solo career and went on to teach at various US universities, as well as Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
She was a wonderful cellist, an inspiring person, and a very beautiful woman. I have been missing her already for the many years in which I was unsuccessfully trying to find her. I never knew her middle name until now. I remember her playing a gamba sonata from memory with love and expertise. She was a joyful presence in the early U. of So. Cal. Piatigorsky master class in the 60’s.