Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Neil W. Levin was a renowned classical music artist who dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Jewish music. He was born on January 1, 1944, in New York City, and grew up in a family that valued music and culture. His father was a cantor, and his mother was a pianist, so music was always a part of his life. Levin began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and voice. He later attended the Juilliard School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. He also studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and conducting with Jean Morel. After completing his studies, Levin began his career as a pianist and conductor, performing with various orchestras and ensembles. He also taught music at several universities, including Brooklyn College, Queens College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. In the 1970s, Levin became interested in Jewish music and began researching and collecting Jewish music manuscripts. He traveled to Europe, Israel, and other parts of the world to study and collect rare Jewish music manuscripts. He also founded the Milken Archive of Jewish Music, which is the largest collection of Jewish music recordings in the world. Levin's work in preserving and promoting Jewish music earned him numerous awards and accolades. In 1998, he received the National Jewish Book Award for his book "Jewish Music: Its Historical Development." He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewish Music Forum in 2005. Levin's performances were always highly anticipated, and he was known for his passionate and expressive playing. One of his most memorable performances was at Carnegie Hall in 1996, where he performed a program of Jewish music with the New York Virtuoso Singers. The concert was a huge success and received rave reviews. Levin was also a prolific composer, and his works have been performed by many orchestras and ensembles around the world. His compositions are known for their intricate harmonies and use of Jewish themes and motifs. Sadly, Neil W. Levin passed away on March 9, 2015, at the age of 71. However, his legacy lives on through his recordings, writings, and the Milken Archive of Jewish Music. He will always be remembered as a passionate and dedicated musician who devoted his life to preserving and promoting Jewish music.

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