Marion Thorpe CBE – concert pianist, co-founder of the Leeds International Piano Competition and co-author with Dame Fanny Waterman of the best-selling piano methods Piano Lessons 1, 2 and 3 and Me and My Piano – has died aged 87. She was daughter of Erwin Stein, she married twice (first to the Earl of Harewood and later, Jeremy Thorpe), and was one of Benjamin Britten’s closest female friends.

Dame Fanny Waterman said: “It is with great regret that I have been informed of the death of my cherished friend of over 60 years, Marion Thorpe.”

Richard King, CEO of Faber Music, said: “It is with great sadness that my colleagues and I at Faber Music have received the news of Marion Thorpe’s death. With co-writer Dame Fanny Waterman, Marion inspired and created the original Waterman-Harewood series of piano teaching books. Although almost 50 years since their first publication together, the series remains one of the most influential, effective and popular in the market and, through it, Marion has directly influenced the lives of literally millions of young players and teachers. She lives on through her inspired publications, but we will miss her greatly.”

 

The Telegraph – Marion Thorpe obituary

The Guardian – Marion Thorpe obituary