Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Birth

:

November 20, 1929 in Schenectady, NY

Death

:

April 18, 2005 in Nashville, TN

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Kenneth Schermerhorn was an American conductor and classical music artist who was born on November 20, 1929, in Schenectady, New York. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue a career in music from a young age. Schermerhorn began playing the piano at the age of four and later learned to play the violin and the trumpet. Schermerhorn attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied conducting with Walter Hendl and composition with Bernard Rogers. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1952 and went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the same institution in 1953. After completing his studies, Schermerhorn began his career as a conductor, working with various orchestras across the United States. He served as the assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1956 to 1959 and the associate conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 1965 to 1970. He also worked as the music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra from 1968 to 1980 and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 2005. Throughout his career, Schermerhorn was known for his passionate and expressive conducting style, which brought out the best in the orchestras he worked with. He was particularly renowned for his interpretations of the works of American composers, including Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and Leonard Bernstein. One of Schermerhorn's most notable performances was his 1976 recording of Copland's "Appalachian Spring" with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The recording won a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance and helped to establish Schermerhorn as one of the leading conductors of his generation. Schermerhorn also received numerous other awards and honors throughout his career. In 1998, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in recognition of his contributions to American music. He was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In addition to his work as a conductor, Schermerhorn was also a composer and arranger. He wrote several works for orchestra, including "American Rhapsody" and "Symphony No. 1." He also arranged music for various ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Schermerhorn was a beloved figure in the classical music world, known for his warmth, humor, and dedication to his craft. He continued to conduct and perform well into his seventies, despite suffering from Parkinson's disease. He passed away on April 18, 2005, at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of musical excellence and inspiration.

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