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Stokowski, Leopold Anthony Stanislaus

One of the most renowned symphony conductors in America. Born in 1882 in London, England. Son of Boleslaus Kopernicus Stokowski. Graduated from Queen's College, Oxford, England. Studied instrumentation in Paris. Conductor of orchestras in London, Paris and Philadelphia. Awarded degree of Doctor of Music by the University of Pennsylvania. In 1922 awarded the Annual Bok prize of ten thousand dollars in Philadelphia. Conductor of Cincinnati Orchestra. Since 1912 until 1938 conductor of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In 1938 started intensive studies to satisfy his creed: to bring the greatest music to the greatest number of people. Resides in California.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943

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Stokowski, Leopold -- conductor

Leopold Stokowski began playing the violin at the age of seven and at eighteen he became a church organist at the St. James Church in England. He made his conducting debut in Paris in 1908. The next year, he took over the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. At the age of thirty five, he was hailed as an orchestra builder and as a promoter of modern music. His major motion pictures were "The Big Broadcast of 1937," "One Hundred Men and a Girl" and the Walt Disney Classic, "Fantasia," (for the musical score he won the Academy Award "Oscar" in 1941) which introduced stereophonic sound and brought symphonic music to a mass audience. His career spanned more than 70 years and over 7,000 concerts. Stokowski was responsible for the first stage performance of Allan Berg's "Wozzek," Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex," and Schoenberg's "Die Glucklihe Hand."

From: Wally West

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