Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

April 20, 1924 in Bonn, Germany

Death

:

March 24, 2008 in Seattle, WA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Symphony

 

Gerhard Samuel was a renowned classical music artist who made significant contributions to the world of music as a conductor, composer, and educator. Born on August 17, 1924, in Mannheim, Germany, Samuel's family moved to Palestine when he was just a child. It was in Palestine that Samuel's love for music began to blossom, and he started taking piano lessons at the age of six. Samuel's family moved to the United States in 1940, and he continued his musical education at the Juilliard School in New York City. He studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar and conducting with Edgar Varèse. Samuel's talent as a conductor was quickly recognized, and he was appointed as the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic in 1947. In 1950, Samuel was appointed as the music director of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 25 years. During his tenure, Samuel transformed the Oakland Symphony Orchestra into one of the most respected orchestras in the country. He introduced new works by contemporary composers and collaborated with renowned soloists such as Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, and Itzhak Perlman. Samuel's conducting career was not limited to the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. He also served as the music director of the San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera. He conducted numerous orchestras around the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his conducting career, Samuel was also a prolific composer. He wrote numerous works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His compositions were performed by orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Samuel's contributions to the world of music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1992, and he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1993. He also received the ASCAP Victor Herbert Award and the Oakland Mayor's Award for the Arts. Samuel was also a dedicated educator, and he taught at numerous institutions throughout his career. He was a professor of music at the University of California, Berkeley, and he also taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard School. Gerhard Samuel passed away on October 22, 2014, at the age of 90. His legacy as a conductor, composer, and educator continues to inspire musicians around the world.

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