Irene Scharrer was born in London on February 2, 1888. She was a student of Matthay's at the Royal Academy and was one of his early chief disciples. She toured both Europe and the U.S, performing a wide repertoire, emphasizing Chopin and Schumann. She made recordings for HMV and Columbia. Scharrer died in London on January 11, 1971. Contrary to some published accounts, Scharrer was not a cousin of Myra Hess, but the two pianists were close friends and colleagues.
