Karin Dayas was born on May 13, 1892 in Helsingfors, Finland. Her parents were pianists who studied under Franz Liszt. She attended the Weimar Music School in Germany as a child and gained the attention of the Grand Duke of Weimar, who sponsored her early career. At the age of sixteen, she entered the Cologne Conservatory where she studied with Carl Friedberg.
In 1925, she came to the United States, and in 1926 joined the faculty of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She continued to serve on the faculty for the next 45 years. Dayas was known to have had a great influence on her students and colleague. Among her notable pupils are Ward Swingle of the Swingle Singers, John White, director of Pro Musica, and Babette Effron, pianist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 1964, she received the University of Cincinnati's Mrs. A.B. "Dolly" Cohen Award for excellence in teaching. She was married to August Soendlin, a violist with the Cincinnati Symphony. Dayas died on March 4, 1971.
From the guide to the Karin Dayas Papers, 1927-1973, 1927-1973, (University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library)
