Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period. He was born in 1810 and died in 1849. As a child prodigy, he began composing at age 6 and performed his first concerto at age 8. After completing his education in music at age 20, he settled in Paris where he became friends with other famous composers and was financially supported by admirers as he focused on composing piano works including mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, ballades, etudes, and preludes.