Seymour Bernstein
| Seymour Bernstein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 24, 1927 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Residence | New York, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Pianist, Professor at New York University |
| Years active | 1942—present |
| Website |
seymourbernstein |
Seymour Bernstein (born April 24, 1927) is an American pianist, composer, and teacher.[1] He is the subject of the documentary Seymour: An Introduction directed by the actor Ethan Hawke. Hawke describes Bernstein as a mentor figure.[2]
Biography
Bernstein was born in Newark, NJ. He began teaching piano at the age of fifteen, when his teacher at the time, Clara Husserl, arranged for him to supervise the practicing of some of her gifted younger pupils. He soon had a class of pupils of his own, some of whom are still studying with him. He achieved local fame quite early as a performer, winning the Griffith Artist Award at the age of seventeen. During the Korean War, he gave concerts on the front lines and for military leaders. His concert career took him to Europe, Asia, and many parts of the Americas, and he wrote With Your Own Two Hands and 20 Lessons in Keyboard Choreography, which have been published in German, Japanese, Korean, and Russian.
Bernstein studied with Alexander Brailowsky, Clifford Curzon, Jan Gorbaty, Nadia Boulanger, and George Enescu. In 1969 he made his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, playing the world premiere of Heitor Villa-Lobos's Concerto No. 2. He is the winner of the First Prize and Prix Jacques Durand at Fontainebleau, the National Federation of Music Clubs Award for Furthering American Music Abroad, a Beebe Foundation grant, two Martha Baird Rockefeller grants, and four State Department grants. He made a point of offering master classes and lecture recitals where his concert tours took him. When grant money allowed, he filled his suitcases with scores to distribute to teachers and students. He ceased performing in 1977, in order to concentrate on teaching, composing and other creative outlets; he told nobody that his farewell recital would be his last.
Bernstein has composed music ranging from teaching material for students of all levels to sophisticated concert pieces. He performs as a guest artist with chamber ensembles and serves on the juries of international competitions. He maintains a private studio in New York City and is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Music and Music Education at New York University. On December 18, 2004, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Shenandoah University. Two new books, Monsters and Angels: Surviving a Career in Music and Chopin: Interpreting His Notational Symbols, have been published by Manduca Music Publications.
Bibliography
- Bernstein, Seymour (1981). With Your Own Two Hands: Self-Discovery Through Music. G. Schirmer Inc. ISBN 978-0793557127.
- Bernstein, Seymour (1991). Twenty Lessons In Keyboard Choreography. Seymour Bernstein Music. ISBN 978-0793503728.
References
- ↑ Kay, Ernest, ed. (1985). International Who's Who in Music: And Musicians' Directory. Melrose Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0900332968.
- ↑ "Ethan Hawke on Mentorship, Artistic Identity and Directing 'Seymour: An Introduction'". The Takeaway. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
External links
- "NYFF52: 'Seymour: An Introduction' Q&A | Ethan Hawke & Seymour Bernstein" on YouTube
- Seymour Bernstein at AllMusic
- Seymour Bernstein at the Internet Movie Database