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]
Bernstein was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where he graduated from Weequahic High School in 1945.[3][4] He began teaching piano at the age of fifteen, when his teacher at the time, Clara Husserl, a pupil of Theodor Leschetizky, arranged for him to supervise the practicing of some of her gifted younger pupils. He soon had a class of pupils of his own. He achieved local fame 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,[5] 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 no one 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.[6] On December 18, 2004, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Shenandoah University. In 2015, actor and filmmaker Ethan Hawke made a documentary about Bernstein entitled: "Seymour: An Introduction".[7]
^"Ethan Hawke on Mentorship, Artistic Identity and Directing 'Seymour: An Introduction'". The Takeaway. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
^"Local Pianist To Play for 'Pops' Series", New Jersey Jewish News, January 25, 1963. Accessed December 19, 2019. "Seymour Bernstein, pianist, a native Newarker, will be soloist in a program of Rachmaninoff and Gershwin music with the New Jersey Symphony, Feb. 2 at 8:30 PM at the Mosque.... A graduate of Weequahic High School, and a winner of Newark's Griffith Artist Award as a boy, Bernstein attended the Juilliard School of Music, later becoming the only pupil of the noted pianist Alexander Brailowsky."
^Distinguished Weequahic Alumni, Weequahic High School Alumni Association. Accessed December 19, 2019. "Seymour Bernstein (1945) a concert pianist and teacher. Documentary made about his life."
^Tsioulcas, Anastasia (March 11, 2015). "Let Ethan Hawke Introduce You To a Fine Forgotten Pianist". npr.org. NPR. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
^Lagnado, Caroline (April 25, 2017). "Seymour Bernstein is Subject of Ethan Hawke Documentary". steinhardt.nyu.edu. NYU. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
^Brody, Richard (March 14, 2015). "A Portrait of the Artist as an Older Man". newyorker.com. New Yorker. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
External linksedit
"NYFF52: 'Seymour: An Introduction' Q&A | Ethan Hawke & Seymour Bernstein" on YouTube
seymour, bernstein, born, april, 1927, american, pianist, composer, teacher, subject, documentary, seymour, introduction, directed, actor, ethan, hawke, hawke, describes, bernstein, mentor, figure, born, 1927, april, 1927, newark, jersey, occupation, pianist, . 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 Seymour BernsteinBorn 1927 04 24 April 24 1927 age 96 Newark New Jersey U S Occupation s Pianist Professor at New York UniversityYears active1942 presentWebsiteseymourbernstein wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Bibliography 3 References 4 External linksBiography editBernstein was born and raised in Newark New Jersey where he graduated from Weequahic High School in 1945 3 4 He began teaching piano at the age of fifteen when his teacher at the time Clara Husserl a pupil of Theodor Leschetizky arranged for him to supervise the practicing of some of her gifted younger pupils He soon had a class of pupils of his own He achieved local fame 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 5 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 no one 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 6 On December 18 2004 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Shenandoah University In 2015 actor and filmmaker Ethan Hawke made a documentary about Bernstein entitled Seymour An Introduction 7 Bibliography editBernstein 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 Bernstein Seymour 2004 Monsters and Angels Surviving a Career in Music Manduca Music ISBN 978 0634078378 Bernstein Seymour 2005 Chopin Interpreting His Notational Symbols Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 978 0634098512 References edit 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 Local Pianist To Play for Pops Series New Jersey Jewish News January 25 1963 Accessed December 19 2019 Seymour Bernstein pianist a native Newarker will be soloist in a program of Rachmaninoff and Gershwin music with the New Jersey Symphony Feb 2 at 8 30 PM at the Mosque A graduate of Weequahic High School and a winner of Newark s Griffith Artist Award as a boy Bernstein attended the Juilliard School of Music later becoming the only pupil of the noted pianist Alexander Brailowsky Distinguished Weequahic Alumni Weequahic High School Alumni Association Accessed December 19 2019 Seymour Bernstein 1945 a concert pianist and teacher Documentary made about his life Tsioulcas Anastasia March 11 2015 Let Ethan Hawke Introduce You To a Fine Forgotten Pianist npr org NPR Retrieved April 30 2017 Lagnado Caroline April 25 2017 Seymour Bernstein is Subject of Ethan Hawke Documentary steinhardt nyu edu NYU Retrieved April 30 2017 Brody Richard March 14 2015 A Portrait of the Artist as an Older Man newyorker com New Yorker Retrieved April 30 2017 External links edit NYFF52 Seymour An Introduction Q amp A Ethan Hawke amp Seymour Bernstein on YouTube Seymour Bernstein at AllMusic Seymour Bernstein at IMDb Seymour Bernstein Interview at NAMM Oral History Library 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seymour Bernstein amp oldid 1165359599, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
