Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, pianist, educator, author and humanitarian who lived from 1918 - 1990. His best know work is West Side Story, which is both a Broadway musical and an Academy Award-winning film. Bernstein was the first American-born conductor to lead a major American orchestra. He was also the first conductor to share and explore music on television. One of his passions was music education, and he broadcast his Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic on television for national and international television.
Maria
Please enjoy this rendition of "Maria" from West Side Story, sung by Julian Ovenden with the John Wilson Orchestra. Any LSM singers out there want to serenade us at the Winter Recitals with this?
Symphonic Dances
Here is the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra performing "Symphonic Dances" from West Side Story lead by the inexhaustible Gustavo Dudamel.
Make Some Music
Inspired by the very rhythmic "Symphonic Dances", here is a drum craft! The instructions are a video so you can set your mini drummer up to build their drum while you catch up on anything you need to catch up on.
Leonard Bernstein's diverse output of music includes operas, ballets, musicals, orchestral works, choral works and much more! Multiple of his compositions won Emmys, Tonys and Grammys. He remains one of the most important composers and music educators of the 20th-century.
