Maria Korchinska

Maria Korchinska (1895 in Moscow – 1979 in London), was a distinguished 20th-century Russian harpist

Korchinska entered the Moscow Conservatoire in 1903 to study both piano and harp. On the advice of her father, she decided in 1907 to concentrate solely on the harp. Her father believed that Russia was entering a time of great change and that given the relatively high number of pianists in Russia it would be easier for his daughter to earn a living through the harp. In 1911 Maria Korchinska was awarded the Moscow Conservatoire Gold Medal, the first time it was ever given to a harpist.

In 1919 she became the Professor of Harp at the Moscow Conservatoire and also the Principal Harpist at the Bolshoi Orchestra. Maria Korchinska was a founder member of the Persimfans "Orchestra without a conductor". She was one of the many musicians who played at Vladimir Lenin's funeral.

In 1922 Maria Korchinska married Count Constantine Benckendorff (the son of Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff). Her daughter Nathalie was born in Moscow in September 1923. Conditions were extremely difficult during the Civil War in Russia for the family. For example, Maria Korchinska had to carry her own father's body to his funeral. It is believed that one of her two Lyon-Healey harps was in fact purchased for a bag of salt. In 1924 she left with her family for England where her son Alexander was born in 1926.

Maria Korchinska (harpist)

Maria Korchinska (born 16 February 1895 Moscow; died 17 April 1979 London) was one of the leading 20th century harpists in Great Britain.

Korchinska entered the Moscow Conservatoire to study both piano and harp in 1903 but on the advice of her father decided to concentrate on the harp from 1907. Her father recognised the likelihood of upheaval in Russia and believed that it would be easier for his daughter to find work as a harpist than as a pianist. In 1911 she won the first Gold Medal given to a Harpist by the Moscow Conservatoire. In 1919 she became the Professor of Harp at the Moscow Conservatoire and also the Principal Harpist of the Bolshoi Orchestra. She was a founder member of "Persimfans", the famous "Orchestra without a conductor".

In 1922 Korchinska married Count Constantine Benckendorff and her daughter Nathalie was born in Moscow in September 1923. The Russian Civil war had seen the confiscation of her husband's estate and conditions were extremely difficult. Maria Korchinska had to carry her father's body to his funeral. In 1924 the family decided to leave Russia for Great Britain, taking with them two Lyon Healey harps. One of these had been purchased in exchange for a bag of salt.