Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

March 18, 1930 in New York City, NY

Death

:

December 31, 2017 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Maurice Peress was a renowned American conductor, music educator, and author who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on March 9, 1930, in New York City, to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Peress grew up in a musical environment and started playing the piano at a young age. Peress attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City, where he studied composition and conducting. He then went on to study at the Juilliard School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1952. He continued his studies at Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in musicology in 1954. Peress began his career as a conductor in the 1950s, working with various orchestras in the United States and Europe. He served as the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein from 1958 to 1962. During this time, he also worked as a music consultant for the film "West Side Story," which was directed by Bernstein. In 1963, Peress was appointed as the conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic, becoming the first African American conductor of a major American orchestra. He held this position until 1973, during which time he led the orchestra in numerous performances and recordings. He also worked to promote diversity in classical music, conducting concerts featuring African American composers and musicians. Peress went on to conduct many other orchestras throughout his career, including the Houston Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, and the New York City Opera. He also served as the music director of the American Composers Orchestra from 1980 to 1985. In addition to his work as a conductor, Peress was also a music educator. He taught at various universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He also served as the director of the conducting program at the Tanglewood Music Center from 1984 to 1988. Peress was also an author, writing several books on classical music. His most notable work was "Dvorak to Duke Ellington: A Conductor Explores America's Music and Its African American Roots," which was published in 2004. The book explores the influence of African American music on classical music and features Peress's personal experiences working with Duke Ellington and other jazz musicians. Throughout his career, Peress received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 2000, he was awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award, which is given to conductors who have made significant contributions to American music. He was also awarded the Leonard Bernstein Award for Excellence in Educational Programming in 2003. Peress continued to work as a conductor and educator until his death on December 31, 2017, at the age of 87. He left behind a legacy of promoting diversity in classical music and exploring the connections between different genres of music. His contributions to the world of classical music will continue to inspire future generations of musicians and music lovers.

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