Harrison Gradwell Slater (born Harry James Wignall) was an American writer, pianist, and educator. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he spent his early years there while his father, a U.S. Army officer, was held as a prisoner of war in North Korea for three years. Later, Slater lived in Mannheim and Frankfurt, Germany, during his father's military posting, before returning to the United States and graduating from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, New Jersey. He legally changed his name to Harrison Gradwell Slater around the publication of his first book.\n\nAs a classical pianist, Slater trained under Anthony di Bonaventura and Paul Doguereau, a distinguished French pianist who had studied with Maurice Ravel and Emma Bardac. Alongside his own performances and recordings, Slater dedicated much of his career to pedagogy and arts administration. He coached numerous world-class pianists and served as the chairman and Artistic Director of the Peabody Mason International Piano Competition, leaving a lasting impact on the classical music community.
