Composer, conductor, educator, musician, cultural ambassador, and humanitarian, Leonard Bernstein would have been 100-years-old on August 25th. To celebrate, the world is performing, listening to, and creating events to honor this virtuoso and his music.
Born in Massachusetts in 1918, Bernstein's studies took him to Harvard, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and Tanglewood. In 1943, he was appointed as Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic and just a few years later, he became the Music Director of the New York City Symphony and the New York Philharmonic soon after that. He was sought after as a guest conductor around the globe and he used those opportunities to advocate for world peace.
Jonathan Chenoweth, The University of Northern Iowa's Professor of Cello, is currently writing a book commemorating Bernstein's voice and musical impact.
