Scionti, Isabel, 1912-2002

Isabel Laughlin Scionti, acclaimed concert pianist and teacher, died June 26, 2002, in Denton. ... Dr. Scionti was born Feb 16, 1912 in Premont to Charles and Mattie Laughlin. She began planning [sic] melodies by ear when she was 3 years old. Her mother, seeing that Isabel was talented, began looking for teachers in South Texas. When Isabel was 11, her parents took her to A & I College in Kingsville for lessons.

Dr. Scionti attended Baylor University where she studied with Roxy Grove. Upon graduating with honors, she acted on her teacher's advice to study with no one but the esteemed concert pianist, Silvio Scionti, at Chicago Musical College.

... Their debut at Carnegie Hall drew rave reviews in 1938. They again played there in 1939 with the same success. The Sciontis were renowned for their Bach interpretations. They created musical history by performing the first all Bach two-piano concert at Town Hall on December 5, 1941, and by giving two Philco Television concerts in Philadelphia in 1942 where serious music was presented for the first time on that medium. The Sciontis were recording artists for RCA Victor.

In the early 1940s, the Sciontis moved to Denton. Isabel Scionti set up her private studio ... At one time she had 80 students.

Among her honors, she was selected as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Texas Music Teachers Association ... She was a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Iota and the Denton Music Teachers Association.

As rewarding two-piano playing as has been disclosed here in many months was heard last night at Carnegie Hall when a new team, Silvio and Isabel Scionti, gave its first New York concert. This was playing that justified the combination of two pianos by the interpretive results. The instruments complemented and fulfilled each other.

Name: Isabel Scionti Hicks
[William R Hicks]
[Isabel Hicks]
[Isabel Scionti Laughlin]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 16 Feb 1912
Birth Place: Premont Jim, Texas
[Premont, Texas]
Death Date: 26 Jun 2002
Father: Charles M Laughlin
Mother: Mattie L Haley
SSN: 457624842
Notes: Mar 1956: Name listed as ISABEL SCIONTI HICKS; Apr 1957: Name listed as WILLIAM R HICKS; 12 Nov 1991: Name listed as ISABEL L HICKS; : Name listed as ISABEL LAU HICKS; 02 Jul 2002: Name listed as ISABEL HICKS

Page 18: Isabel Scionti: "I was born Isabel Laughlin in Premont, Texas, of Southern parentage. As south Texas pioneers, my parents acquired large holdings surrounding Premont, which was a small village just adjacent to the corner of the famous King Ranch ... As a child I played by ear for churches and dances; there were no piano teachers in the area. My mother taught me some, although she was not a professional musician. Then, when I was about fourteen, my parents drove me about thirty miles though the King Ranch over the sandy, curved country roads to Texas A&I College in Kingsville for serious piano lessons..."