Birth

:

April 22, 1920 in New York City, NY

Death

:

April 22, 2010 in Morristown, NJ

Period

:

Modern

 

Arthur Winograd was an American cellist, conductor, and music educator who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on February 22, 1919, in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Winograd showed a keen interest in music and began playing the cello at the age of six. Winograd's talent was quickly recognized, and he was accepted into the Juilliard School of Music at the age of 12. He studied under the renowned cellist Felix Salmond and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1938. He continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied under the legendary cellist Emanuel Feuermann. After completing his studies, Winograd began his professional career as a cellist, performing with various orchestras and chamber ensembles. He was a member of the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscanini and played with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He also performed with the Casals Festival Orchestra in Puerto Rico and the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. In addition to his career as a cellist, Winograd was also a talented conductor. He founded the Bach Aria Group in 1946, which became one of the most respected chamber ensembles in the United States. The group specialized in performing the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other Baroque composers. Winograd served as the group's conductor and cellist for over 20 years, and they performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Winograd was also a dedicated music educator and taught at several prestigious institutions throughout his career. He was a faculty member at the Juilliard School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the New England Conservatory of Music. He also served as the director of the chamber music program at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts. Throughout his career, Winograd received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1950, he was awarded the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation Award for his outstanding contributions to chamber music. He was also awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award in 1963 for his exceptional work as a conductor. One of the highlights of Winograd's career was his performance of Bach's six suites for unaccompanied cello at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. in 1950. The performance was recorded and released as an album, which received critical acclaim and is still considered one of the definitive recordings of the suites. Winograd continued to perform, conduct, and teach throughout his career, and his contributions to the world of classical music were significant. He passed away on January 3, 2002, at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in music performance and education.

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