Leopold Godowsky was a well-known pianist, composer, and teacher born in Sozły, near Vilna, to Jewish parents. At the time of his birth, the area was part of Russia but is now Lithuania. Even though he was born there, Godowsky felt connected to his Polish roots and identified as Polish. His early background helped shape his identity in the world of music. At the age of 14, Godowsky began studying at the Berlin High School for Music. Soon after, he moved to the United States, where he spent most of his life. He gave his first American concert in 1884 and started teaching at the New York College of Music by 1890. He became a U.S. citizen in 1891 and later taught in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Vienna between 1909 and 1914. His international music career continued until 1930 when a stroke stopped him from performing. Godowsky was known for his advanced playing skills and careful study of classic music. He wrote over 400 original pieces and made detailed arrangements of older songs and instrumental works. Although many of his compositions showed his great skill, they were also musically traditional. One important work is his Triakontameron, a collection of 30 pieces from 1920. After his death, his music was seldom played, but it is believed that he influenced composers like Maurice Ravel and Sergey Prokofiev.