Steffy Goldner

The New York Philharmonic's First Woman

Early Life (1896-1921)

Portrait of Steffy Goldner with harp at the Vienna Academy
Steffy Goldner at the Vienna Academy of Music [1]

Goldner was born in 1896 into a Jewish family in Vienna, one of four siblings who all studied music (Julia, piano; Hermann, cello; Steffy, harp; Gertrude, violin). She began taking harp lessons at age eight, studying with Vicki Baum, harpist and internationally known author. Within half a year Steffy was admitted to the Vienna Academy of Music, which she attended for four years before embarking on her professional career.

Portrait of Trudy Goldner with violin and Steffy Goldner with harp.
1918 concert promotion photo of Gertrude (left) and Steffy (right) with their respective instruments [2]
First page of program for 1919 concert by Julia and Trude Goldner.
[3]

As a young woman, Goldner was in demand as a solo harpist in Vienna. By age 16, she was regularly performing chamber concerts with her sisters — pianist Julia and violinist Gertrude — giving tours around Germany and England.

While touring she was discovered by conductors Oskar Nedbal and Wilhelm Bruch of the Wiener Tonkünstler Orchester and the Philharmonisches Orchester Nürnberg (now Staatsphilharmonie Nürnberg), respectively, who praised her impeccable technique and musicality. She took letters of recommendation from both music directors with her to America.

Photograph of letters to Steffy Goldner from Oscar Nedbal, conductor of the Wiener Sinfonie Orchester, and Wilhelm Bruch, Kapellmeister of the Philharmonisches Orchester Nürnberg
1913, laudatory letters from Oskar Nedbal, conductor of the Wiener Tonkünstler Orchester, urging Steffy to stay in Nürnberg in the case of an orchestra opening, and from Wilhelm Bruch, Kapellmeister of the Philharmonisches Orchester Nürnberg, praising Steffy's musicianship. (Click image for larger version.) [4]
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References

  1. ^ New York Philharmonic Archives, courtesy of Doris Balant
  2. ^ New York Philharmonic Archives, courtesy of Doris Balant
  3. ^ New York Philharmonic Archives, courtesy of Doris Balant
  4. ^ New York Philharmonic Archives, courtesy of Doris Balant