Leonard Bernstein was the first American musician whose rich and radiant mastery of music awarded him worldwide recognition as a composer, conductor, pianist, educator and humanitarian. Serving as the Music Director for the New York Philharmonic, and conducting some of the world's most distinguished orchestras, Bernstein impacted popular culture with his inspirational talent and energy, providing new appreciation and interest in classical symphonies and musical theatre among all generations.

Bernstein's unsurpassed achievements boasts a lengthy list of accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Grammy award in addition to an astounding eleven Emmy's. An educator and advocate for American composers, he also established The Young People's Concerts in 1958, a televised, award-winning program promoting young American talent.

Some of Bernstein's most significant works include his orchestra symphonies, Facsimile, Fancy Free and Kaddish, and his musical theatre scores for Candide, Wonderful Town and the famed production, West Side Story.