Sylvia Kersenbaum

Sylvia Kersenbaum, age 84, passed away at her residence in Bowling Green, Kentucky on March 22nd, 2026. She was born to the late Teresa Sacchero and Oscar Kersenbaum on December 27th, 1941 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Sylvia began her musical training with her mother. Soon afterward, she became a pupil of the eminent teacher Vincent Scaramuzza. Sylvia holds degrees in performance, pedagogy and composition from the National Conservatory in Buenos Aires and Artists Diplomas from both the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome and the Academia Chigiana in Siena.

She has appeared in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras throughout Europe, the Far East, North and South America. Some noted orchestras include the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Munchen Philharmoniker, Beyerische Staatskapel, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the San Francisco Symphony and the Louisville Orchestra.

Sylvia joined Western Kentucky University as a professor of piano in 1976 and taught students for over 30 years, retiring in 2007. Her performances of Beethoven's thirty-two piano sonatas on campus and abroad were highly acclaimed. In 1990 she was awarded Honorary Membership of the American Beethoven Society and the WKU Faculty Award for Research and Creativity. A scholarship in her honor was endowed by the WKU Delta Omicron Chapter.

As a composer, she wrote the music for Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," which premiered as a ballet in October 2001 at the Capitol Theater in Bowling Green, collaborating with the WKU Department of Theatre and Dance.

Among her many accolades, Sylvia's recordings for the EMI-Angel label have won major international press acclaim. Her version of Tchaikovsky's Concerto Op. 44 under Jean Martines was reissued on CD Sg EMI Europe and Liszt Hexameron was included in their series 100 Virtuosi of the 20th Century.

Aside from her professional career, Sylvia had many passions. She greatly enjoyed opera and had an affinity for both animals and nature. She especially loved her cats, her garden, and the birds, squirrels and assorted wildlife that frequented it.

Sylvia is survived by her loving sister, Estela Olevsky of Massachusetts; her niece, Didi (Jon) Gluck and their children, A.J. and Oscar Gluck, all of New York; and many loving friends and family members.

Cremation was chosen. There are no services planned at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to the J. C. Kirby & Son Broadway Chapel.