Born: June 10, 1922, Detroit, Michigan

Died: June 7, 2005, Akron,Ohio

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At age 13, Margaret Barthel Baxtresser was a soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. At age 20 she won the Walter W. Naumburg International Piano Competition launching her concert career that included soloing with numerous major orchestras in venues throughout the world. In 1994, she became the first American artist to perform in Vietnam after the Vietnam War.

Baxtresser was a staunch supporter of the arts in her community of Akron, Ohio. She was professor emerita of music at Kent State University where she taught piano from 1966 to 1991.

She was married to Earl Baxtresser and was the mother to 2 sons, 2 daughters and 2 adopted daughters. Her eldest daughter is flutist Jeanne Baxtresser.