Leopold Stokowski

Leopold Stokowski (April 18, 1882 - September 13, 1977) (born Antoni Stanis?aw Boles?awowicz) was the conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He was the founder of the New York City Symphony Orchestra. He arranged the music for and appeared in Disney?s Fantasia.

Early Life

The son of Polish cabinetmaker Kopernik Józef Boles?aw Stokowski and his Irish wife Annie Marion Moore, Stokowski was born in London, England, in 1882. There is a certain amount of mystery surrounding his early life. For example, no one could ever determine where his slightly Eastern European, -sounding accent came from as he was a born and raised in London (it is surmised that this was a affectation on his part to add mystery and interest) and he also, on occasion, quoted his birth year as 1887 instead of 1882.

Related Topics:
Polish - Irish - London - England - 1882 - Mystery - Eastern European - Accent - 1887

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Stokowski trained at the Royal College of Music (which he entered in 1896, at the age of thirteen, one of the college's youngest students ever). He sang in the choir of St. Marylebone Church and later became Assistant Organist to Sir Henry Walford Davies at The Temple Church. At the age of 16, he was elected to membership in the Royal College of Organists. In 1900 he formed the choir of St. Mary's Church, Charing Cross Road. There he trained the choirboys and played the organ and in 1902 was appointed organist and choir director of St. James's Church, Piccadilly. He also attended Queen's College, Oxford where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1903.

Related Topics:
Royal College of Music - 1896 - Choir - St. Marylebone Church - Organist - Walford Davies - The Temple Church - Royal College of Organists - 1900 - St. Mary's Church - Charing Cross Road - 1902 - St. James's Church - Piccadilly - Queen's College, Oxford - Bachelor of Music - Degree - 1903

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