Edith Picht-Axenfeld was a distinguished German pianist and harpsichordist, born on January 1, 1914, in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, and passed away on April 19, 2001, in Hinterzarten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. She began learning piano at the age of five, studying with Anna Hirzel-Langenhan and later with the renowned Rudolf Serkin. She also studied organ with Wolfgang Auler and Albert Schweitzer.

Picht-Axenfeld launched her concert career in 1935 and gained significant recognition by winning sixth prize at the III International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1937. Her career was interrupted by World War II, during which she taught music at the Birklehof Boarding School in Hinterzarten, where she married Dr. W. Picht, the school's director.

After the war, she resumed her career, performing extensively across Europe, the Near and Far East, the Americas, India, and South Africa. She was celebrated for her performances of J.S. Bach's complete harpsichord works and Beethoven's complete sonatas, while her repertoire also included Romantic, Impressionist, Expressionist, and avant-garde music.

Picht-Axenfeld was a prolific chamber musician, collaborating with artists like violinists Pina Carmirelli and Henryk Szeryng, flautist Aurèle Nicolet, and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. She also formed a piano duo with Carl Seemann.

As an educator, she taught at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau from 1947 to 1979, influencing many students, including composers like Manfred Stahnke. She held master classes internationally and continued to perform into her later years, including a notable recital at the International Chopin Festival in Duszniki in 1995.

Her recordings, particularly her 1968 Goldberg Variations, are considered significant contributions to classical music, and she recorded for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, and Erato. Her legacy is preserved in numerous recordings and the lasting impact she had on her students and audiences worldwide.