Leonard Lehrman

Experience

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  Opera Composition

  Jan 1970 - Jan 2015

  Composer

  composing, coaching, accompanying, producing, directing

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  Cornell University

  Jul 1973 - Aug 1973

  Lecturer in Music

  Taught Rudiments of Music Theory & Appreciation

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  Metropolitan Opera Company

  Aug 1977 - Jul 1978

  Assistant Chorus Master/Assistant Conductor

  Worked on 22 operas with chorus, mostly women's chorus, and some soloists. Backstage conducted banda for LA TRAVIATA under Richard Woitach, chorus in Massenet's THAIS Mediation, Men's Chorus in DER ROSENKAVALIER, Mary Costa in LA BOHEME, Luciano Pavarotti and John Alexander in LA FAVORITA; prompted James McCracken, Bernd Weikl, et al in TANNHAEUSER. Taught chorus to sing EUGENE ONEGIN in Russian for the first time.

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  Bel Canto Opera Company

  Sept 1977 - Jan 1988

  Composer, Conductor, Russian Translator

  1/78 Cast. coached and conducted from one of 2 pianos, the NYC premiere of TALES OF MALAMUD (IDIOTS FIRST, begun by Marc Blitzstein, completed by me; and KARLA, my own opera - both based on stories by Bernard Malamud)4/79 Translated Glinka's A LIFE FOR THE CZAR for US premiere in English1/88 Wrote new translation of and directed Chabrier's ETOILE

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  Heidelberg Stadtische Buehne

  May 1979 - Jan 1980

  Solo- und Ballettrepetitor und Komponist

  Chordirektor for Summer Festival production of THE STUDENT PRINCE, ballet repetitor for Johannes Kresnik; occasional solo accompaniment for opera rehearsals.Also worked for the U.S. Army in Heidelberg in Statistics, K.P., pre-school substitute teaching, and offering courses at the University of Maryland there.

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  Augsburg Staedtische Buehne

  Jan 1980 - Jul 1980

  Solorepetitor

  Accompanied rehearsals and performances of Puccini's IL TABARRO, Burt's BARNSTABLE, Mozart's MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Strauss's SALOME, and concert of my own music, including Flute Sonata and excerpts from IDIOTS FIRST, KARLA and SIMA with Elizabeth Parcells and others.

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  Basler Theater

  Jul 1980 - Jun 1981

  Solorepetitor mit Dirigierverpflichtung

  Coached singers in LA BOHEME (also played Drum Major onstage), WERTHER, BORIS GODUNOV (also conducted trumpets backstage), IM WEISSEN ROESSL, and accompanied singers and flutist Raymond Meylan in concert of own music. Also gave lecture on Jewish Music at Bnai Brith Loge there.

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  Schauspielhaus Wien

  Jun 1981 - Aug 1981

  Musical Coordinator, EIN WALZERTRAUM

  Coached, rehearsed, and conducted orchestra and cast in new adaptation of Straus operetta. Also gave lecture on Jewish Music at Bnai Brith Loge there and later accompanied concertwith Walter & Helga Fink.

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  Stadttheater Bremerhaven

  Aug 1981 - Jun 1983

  Solorepetitor und Kapellmeister

  Conducted ZAR UND ZIMMERMANN (rhrsl), and performances of MASKE IN BLAU, OKLAHOMA!, MUTTER COURAGE. Coached & accompanied DON CARLO, RUSALKA, IM WEISSEN ROESSL, DER ROSENKAVALIER, ZIGEUNERLIEBE, BLUME VON HAWAII, GLUECKLICHE REISE, etc. Also worked as substitute teacher in American School while there.

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  Theater des Westens

  Aug 1983 - May 1986

  Studienleiter (Chief Coach) & Kapellmeister (Conductor)

  Was first Jew to conduct FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in West Berlin.Also conducted MY FAIR LADY and coached other shows including MAN OF LA MANCHA and concert that included excerpts from SHOWBOAT, et al. Also served as Organist for American Hospital Catholic Services, 1984-86.

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  Juedischer Musiktheaterverein Berlin, e.V.

  Nov 1983 - May 1986

  Founder (later Ehrenkapellmeister)

  Produced 36 events including European premieres of GROWING UP WOMAN (directed by Joaquin La Habana), SIMA (in German with Christina Preussler, Katarina Richter, Robert Edwards, Elizabeth Parcells), FAMILY MAN (with George Shirley), and Mira J. Spektor's LADY OF THE CASTLE, plus numerous concerts & lectures at Juedische Gemeindehaus, Haus der Kirche, Urania, and in E. Berlin; also first 2 performances of E.G.: Scenes from the Life of Emma Goldman (with Elizabeth Parcells, Uwe Sauerwein and Frohwalte Pilz). Show less

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  Temple Beth Sholom

  Jun 1986 - Jun 1988

  Day Camp Instructor, Music Director

  Accompanied Cantor Seymour Schwartzman; conducted two concerts with him, Elaine Malbin, Tibor Kelen, and others on "Opera and the Jewish People,"​ including US premiere of my 14-movement cantata, "Jewish Voices in Germany"

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  The First Church of Christ, Scientist

  Mar 1987 - Oct 1992

  Organist

  Played Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings

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  Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus

  Jan 1988 - now

  Founder/Director

  selecting singers and repertoire, accompanying, coaching, conducting, producing concerts and opera performances

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  Center for Contemporary Opera

  Nov 1990 - Mar 1992

  Composer, Coach, Performer

  Performed in SUPERSPY!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical Nov. 17-18, 1990 at Turtle Bay Music School. Cast and coached orchestral premiere of TALES OF MALAMUD Mar. 19 & 21, 1992 at NYU. Both under the auspices of the Center for Contemporary Opera.

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  After Dinner Opera Company

  Nov 1990 - Dec 2014

  Guest Conductor/Composer

  11/90 Abridged, coached and conducted Virgil Thomson's LORD BYRON10/91 Accompanied "Memories & Music of Leonard Bernstein"​ and condcuted own opera with Joel Shatzky - NEW WORLD: An OPERA ABOUT WHAT COLUMBUS DID TO THE "INDIANS"12/14 Conducted from the piano own opoera with Orel Protopopescu - HANNAH(at Malverne Community Presbyterian Church 12/9/14 & HUC-JIR 12/23/14)

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  Opera Monthly

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1994

  Associate Editor

  Wrote 20 articles on operas by Siegmeister, Bolcom, Russians, Germans, etc.

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  Malverne Community Presbyterian Church

  Nov 1992 - Jun 2003

  Music Director

  As organist/choir director I produced 4 concerts at the church, involving the Long Island Composers Alliance, of which I was then President. They included my REQUIEM FOR HIROSHIMA in 1995.On Dec. 9, 2014, the church hosted the US premiere of my opera HANNAH. See http://ljlehrman.artists-in-residence.com/Hannah.html

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  Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library

  Mar 1995 - now

  Reference Librarian

  I am still there. I helped catalog the Theodore Roosevelt Connection, helped choose the piano donated by Billy Joel, and regularly answer reference questions, as well as helping to weed Non-Fiction.

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  Aufbau Verlag GmbH & Co. KG

  Jun 1995 - Nov 2002

  Critic

  Wrote 112 articles, all posted on website.

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  North Shore Synagogue

  Aug 1995 - Jun 2001

  Music Director

  Accompanied services, rehearsed and conducted choir, performed at concerts, including preview of my opera SUPPOSE A WEDDING, was Composer-in-Residence 1996-97.

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  Opera Today - publication of the Center for Contemporary Opera

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2002

  Editor

  Wrote and edited articles for several issues, interviewing Gian-Carlo Menotti, Victoria Bond, et al.

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  White Barn Theatre Foundation

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2001

  Visiting Composer, Coach, Accompanist, Directorial Consultant

  As completor/co-composer of SACCO AND VANZETTI, begun but left unfinished by Marc Blitzstein, I cast, coached, and conducted the opera from the piano. I also staged all but one scene, choreographed by the official Director, Donald Saddler, and worked out the lighting with the Lighting Director. I also put together a symposium on the work with Joan Peyser, Brenda Lewis, Robert Palmer and Anton Coppola.

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  White Barn Theatre Foundation

  Feb 2001 - Aug 2001

  Composer/Conductor, SACCO AND VANZETTI

  Completed opera begun by Marc Blitzstein: SACCO AND VANZETTI, cast, staged, and conducted from the piano 3 performances of the work Aug. 17-19, 2001.Also led symposium on the work with Joan Peyser, Robert Palmer, Anton Coppola and Brenda Lewis, Aug. 18, 2001 All viewable at <​ljlehrman.artists-in-residence.com/SaccoAndVanzetti.html>.

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  The New Music Connoisseur

  May 2001 - now

  Critic

  42 articles to date, thru Oct. 2015; all posted, or to be posted, on websiteWas Copy Editor and "Critic-at-Large," 2006-09.

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  Christ Church Babylon

  May 2003 - Aug 2006

  Minister of Music/Composer-in-Residence

  Composed for and conducted choir from the organ, in Brahms, Thompson, and Lehrman's setting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among many other works.

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  Bronx Opera Company

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2006

  French Translator

  Translated Chabrier's UNE EDUCATION MANQUEE for Jan. 2006 production.

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  St. George's Church

  Aug 2006 - Aug 2007

  Music Director/Composer-in-Residence

  Conducted senior choir, junior choir, and bell choir at services and performances including DANIEL.

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  United Methodist Church

  Dec 2007 - Jun 2010

  Music Director/Composer-in-Residence

  accompanying services on organ, conducting choir, instruments and handbells at services and concerts

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  Halifax Summer Opera Festival and Workshop

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2012

  Visiting Composer, Coach, Accompanist, Performer, Directorial Consultant

  Conducted master class and gave American Opera Recital featuring works by Blitzstein, Siegmeister, and Lehrman, with Helene Williams and students in the program. Viewable here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmhHI8m9j-XuGhy_V7HrrYJ5OMU39UJgTConsulted on production of Blitzstein's HARPIES.

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  Church-in-the-Garden (Baptist)

  Jan 2013 - Feb 2014

  Organist/Choir Director

  Conducted and accompanied choir and soloists on piano and organ at services & in concert. Best example: "O Holy Night"​ with organ & harp: https://youtu.be/KPTXiV0U7R8

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  Christ Lutheran Church

  Feb 2014 - now

  Organist/ChoirDirector/Composer-in-Residence

  That is still my title. I play for all services, rehearse, accompany and conduct the choir, and choose the anthems, including many of my own.

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  Metropolitan Synagogue of NY

  Aug 2014 - now

  High Holidays Organist/Choir Director

  Conduct professional octet from the organ, including own music written for this synagogue when guest conducting there in 1979.

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  Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

  Aug 2014 - May 2015

  Adjunct Faculty

  Taught course in Jewish Opera. After 2 lectures in Aug.,- Sep.,2014, resumed lectures (5) at Community Church of NY in Jan.- May, 2014.All are posted with links athttp://ljlehrman.artists-in-residence.com/ljlehrmanlecturevideos.html