Bernstein, Masterful Composer and Conductor
In-Person – Tuesday 3:10 pm – 4:50 pm
March 12, 19, 26 April 2, 9, 16 
Born in 1918 in Massachusetts, into a family of Ukrainian Jewish descent, Leonard Bernstein’s prodigious natural musical talents were demonstrated from a very young age, as he made his way into the unfolding American musical world of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1943, he stepped in to replace the ailing Bruno Walter, conducting the New York Philharmonic in a live concert; and the rest, as they say, is history. As a composer, Bernstein is truly beloved for two great works: his 1956 opera, Candide, and the revolutionary musical, West Side Story (1957). He wrote many other wonderful works and conducted performances of a wide variety of music. Dr. Joe will present a survey of Leonard Bernstein’s memorable compositions, and he will play this marvelous music for us on a piano keyboard in his own creative style.
Joe Utterback earned his Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from Wichita State University and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas. He has more than 500 published jazz and classical compositions in his Composer Catalogue. Dr. Joe has been Director of Music/Organist at Stratford First Congregational Church since 1996. He has been on the faculty of Sacred Heart University for 29 years. Dr. Joe has taught for 18 years at LLI, and he continues to perform throughout the U.S. and around the world.