Born: April 10, 1913

Died: September 7, 2004

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Maurice Bialkin studied at Juilliard from 1933-36. Later studies were with Percy Such. He made his NY debut in Town Hall, 1938 as the winner of the 1937 Naumburg Cello Competition. He performed the world premiere of Vladiimir Dukesky's cello concerto with the Paris Orchestra and later with the CBS Symphony.

During his lifetime, Mr. Bialkin performed numerous freelance engagements, recorded many albums as an ensemble player -- including with Tony Bennett -- and played with the CBS Symphony, NBC Orchestra and Glenn Miller Army/Air Force Band. He was the first cellist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and also played in the Galimir Quartet, Phoenix Quartet and Tameo Quartet. In addition, he performed in Broadway shows, including "Pippin," "Two by Two" and "They're Playing Our Song," among many others. Mr. Bialkin was also cellist on the "Show of Shows," and the Ed Sullivan, Jack Parr and Johnny Carson shows. In the 1930s and 1940s he was musical director at the Tamiment resort in Catskills, where Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Sid Ceasar all came through.

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