Rudolf Serkin (Eger, 28 March 1903 - Guild fort, 8 may 1991) was an American pianist. Serkin was born in Bohemia as the fifth child in a family of eight children. He studied in Vienna piano with Richard Robert, and composition with Joseph Marx and Arnold Schoenberg. He married the daughter of the violinist Adolf Busch and became his permanent companion. In 1939 , he emigrated to the United States and became a teacher at the Curtis Institute in 1968 to Philadelphia and Director of this institution. Serkin was also active as a composer. He composed a String Quartet.