Leonard Bernstein
Birth Name:
Louis Bernstein
Birth Place:
Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States
Profession
Soundtrack, Music department, Writer
Fast Facts
- Held the lifetime title of Laureate Conductor at the New York Philharmonic and led more concerts there during his 11-year tenure than any previous conductor
- Was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1985
- Graduated from Harvard University, where he trained with Walter Piston, Edward Burlingame-Hill, and A․ Tillman Merritt, in 1939
- Also studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Boston Symphony's summer institute, Tanglewood
- Made his conducting debut on "The Birds" and later directed and performed in "The Cradle Will Rock․"
- Was appointed as the music director of the New York City Symphony Orchestra in 1945 and was later a visiting music professor at Brandeis University in the 1950s
- Got his first permanent conducting post as the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 1943
- Best known as a composer, conductor, and pianist who served as the music director of the New York Philharmonic for several years
- Became the first American to conduct an opera at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1953, when he conducted Cherubini's "Medea" starring Maria Callas
- Founded the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival and the Pacific Music Festival
Awards
- 1955Oscar - Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture:Nominated
- 1957Primetime Emmy - Best Musical Contribution for Television:Winner
- 1958Primetime Emmy - Best Musical Contribution for Television:Winner
- 1975Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Classical Music Program:Nominated
- 1976Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Classical Music Program:Winner
- 1982Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts:Nominated
- 1984Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts:Nominated
- 1985Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts:Nominated
- 2015IFMCA Award - Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording:Winner
- 2022Special Award - Kyle Renick Special Award:Winner
- 2022OFTA Film Award - Best Adapted Song:Nominated
- 2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame - Score:Winner