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Who was Charles Hambitzer, and how did he influence George Gershwin?
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George Gershwin
American composer George Gershwin working on the score for Porgy and Bess, 1935.
Charles Hambitzer was a noted music instructor who played a pivotal role in the early development of George Gershwin. After Gershwin demonstrated a natural talent for the upright piano at age 11, his parents arranged for him to study under Hambitzer.1
Hambitzer was instrumental in shaping Gershwin’s musical foundation by introducing him to the works of great classical composers. Recognizing his student's extraordinary potential, Hambitzer was so impressed that he refused payment for the lessons, famously declaring in a letter that Gershwin was a genius who would eventually make his mark on the world of music.1