Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein was a very extraordinary person. He was among the first conductors to be born and educated in America. A truly inspirational man, who accomplished an astonishing amount during his career. His achievements in conducting, composing and teaching helped establish American artists in a largely dominated European field. A true creator, Bernstein was able to achieve great success in many areas of music. His compositions varied throughout his life from; symphonies, musical theatre, ballet, chorales, solo pieces and song cycles. He was a gifted teacher, using his talent to educate many millions of people through his television career, which was aided by his charismatic persona, charm, and his infectious love of all things musical. The first American born and raised conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein was an international star, guest conducting for the Vienna Phil., London SO and Bavarian RSO to name a few. His contribution to American music is a colossal achievement, and he has left behind him a catalogue of work that will be loved, listened, studied and inspire others for generations to come.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, on August 25th 1918. Bernstein was a celebrity in post world war II New York, and around the world. Conductor, composer, pianist, author, educator, Bernstein was truly an all round musical talent. Bernstein did not come from a musical family, his father was a successful business man, supplying beauty and barber shop supplies. He first developed an interest in music when his aunt’s piano was brought into the Bernstein family home. Bernstein played the piano by ear before his first noted piano teacher and later assistant Helen Coates began to teach him after Bernstein approached her then boss which she was assistant to, Heinrich Gebhard who was one of Boston’s most influential teachers and pianists. His family accepted there sons flare for music and embraced it even though it was looked on as an uncertain

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