Wenzel, Ernst Ferdinand

1808-1880

Distinguished German teacher; member of the faculty of Leipsic Conservatory for over thirty years; intimate friend of Schumann and Mendelssohn. He was a native of Saxony, was born at Waldorf, died at Bad Kosen. While studying philosophy at Leipsic University he had private lessons in piano under Frederick Wieck; in this period his intimacy with Schumann began. When the Leipsic Conservatory was founded by Mendelssohn, Wenzel was appointed teacher of piano, 1843, occupied this post until his death, was very highly esteemed as a teacher. He was a frequent contributor to Schumann's Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik.