Seymour Bernstein (born April 24, 1927) is an American pianist, composer, and teacher. He is the subject of the documentary ''Seymour: An Introduction (film), Seymour: An Introduction'' directed by the actor Ethan Hawke. Hawke describes Bernstein as a mentor figure.

Biography

Bernstein was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where he graduated from Weequahic High School in 1945.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." 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, 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. 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".

Bibliography

* * * *

References

External links

* * *
Seymour Bernstein Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2021) {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernstein, Seymour 1927 births Living people Musicians from Newark, New Jersey Weequahic High School alumni American classical pianists American male classical pianists Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development faculty 20th-century classical pianists 21st-century classical pianists Jewish classical pianists 20th-century American pianists 21st-century American pianists Classical musicians from New York (state) Classical musicians from New Jersey 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians