Bertica Shulman Cramer

It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bertica Shulman Cramer passed away on October 25, 2015, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Bertica was born in Havana, Cuba. She was a child prodigy pianist, demonstrating a rare musical talent at a young age. She made her piano debut with the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of seven. She studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music before moving to the US in her early teens to study at the Longy School of Music. Bertica studied with many of the greats including Rosina Lhevvine, Claudio Arrau, Nadia Boulanger, and Boris Goldovsky with whom she played a major role in the Goldovsky Opera Company Summer Music Festivals. She was also a student at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship program. Bertica was the consummate performer, soloing with many symphonies across the globe including the Quito (Ecuador) Symphony, Bogota (Columbia) Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Classical Orchestra, Columbia (Missouri) Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Brookline Orchestra and the Boston Pops. In fact, Bertica performed with the Boston Pops on an almost yearly basis for many years playing in a range of venues and was a favorite soloist of Arthur Fiedler and Harry Ellis Dickson. Not only was her piano technique flawless, but she had a truly unique ability to bring melodies to life, thrilling audiences with her performances. She was a constant presence in the Boston chamber music scene and in Symphony Hall for many decades. Bertica gave several South American concert tours and masterclasses as well as giving solo performances throughout South America and Puerto Rico. She was also an artist-in-residence at the Kodaly Center of America. She was the recipient of many honors including the Distinguished Award for Artistic Merit from the Cuban Cultural Society and the Distinguished Alumna Award from the Longy School of Music. Bertica mentored countless piano students both in her home studio in Newton and from her position on the faculty of the New England Conservatory, Preparatory Division. She imparted to her students her great passion for music and her deep knowledge of how to make the piano sing. She and her loving husband Howard (deceased) were founding members of Temple Beth Avodah, in Newton. Bertica is survived by her sister Rebecca; her three sons Steve, Rob and Rick; her daughters in law Bonnie, Janet and M.J., her nine grandchildren Dan, Shira, Courtney, Sarah, Hallie, Matt, Mikayla, Morgan and Isabel; and her great grandson Ari.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday October 28th at 12 noon at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA followed by interment at Sharon Memorial Park. Donations in Bertica’s honor may be made to the National MS Society and the National Alzheimer’s Association.