Clara Josephine Schumann was an accomplished musician and composer of the Romantic era. She was born Clara Josephine Wieck on September 13, 1819 in Leipzig, Germany. Her father, Frederick Wieck, was a piano teacher, and her mother Marianne Wieck, was a concert pianist. Clara’s father wanted Clara to excel as a musician and made sure that she received instruction in piano, violin, voice, and composition from the time she was young. Clara gave her first solo concert in 1830 at the age of 11 and included works of others plus her own compositions. By her mid- teens, Clara was quite famous throughout Europe and regularly performed concerts to sold-out audiences. After marrying fellow composer, Robert Schumann, in 1840, Clara continued performing and composing. Clara traveled to England in 1856 and was invited to play in a London Philharmonic Society concert. She returned to England many times over the next few years. Her musical interpretations were known for their depth and sensitivity and are still performed today. In 1878, Clara accepted a teaching position at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, Germany and held this position until 1892.