Mae Doelling Schmidt

Mae Doelling Schmidt (née Mary Metzke; 22 May 1888 Chicago – 11 March 1965 Chicago) was an American virtuoso pianist, composer, clubwoman, and music educator from Chicago. She was on the faculty of the American Conservatory of Music. Early life Mae Doelling Schmidt, born Mary Metzke, was the youngest of four girls born to Julius (aka August) Metzke (surname also spelled Mätzke; 1847–1907) and Marie J. Schwechert (maiden; 1854–1892), both German immigrants from Prussia who married in Chicago on August 28, 1878. Mae’s mother died when she was years old. Adoptee parents Separated from her sisters when she was a toddler, Mae, when she was five, was adopted by German-born Chicagoans, Paul Wilhelm Doelling (1846-1909) Paul and Ida Doelling also adopted Paula Hoffman in 1891. Formal education At the age of 9 Doelling began studying in the Children’s Department of the American Conservatory of Music, where at age 10 she earned a Silver Medal, A 1922 report described Doelling as “forceful when necessary”, but adding that “she relies on brains rather than physical strength to bring out the beauties of the music.” She often included her own compositions in her programs. Her piano compositions