Seymour Lipkin (May 14, 1927 – November 16, 2015)[2] was an American concert pianist, conductor, and educator.

Seymour Lipkin
Seymour Lipkin
Seymour Lipkin
Background information
Born(1927-05-14)May 14, 1927
Detroit, Michigan
DiedNovember 16, 2015(2015-11-16) (aged 88)
Blue Hill, Maine[1]
GenresClassical music
OccupationsPianist, Conductor, Teacher
InstrumentsPiano

Early life and piano career

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Lipkin was born in Detroit. At age 11, he entered the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with David Saperton, Rudolf Serkin and Mieczysław Horszowski[3] At age 17 he served as accompanist to Jascha Heifetz on a USO tour[1] of Europe during World War II. He received his degree in 1947.

In 1948, he won the Rachmaninoff Piano Contest, beating Gary Graffman.[4]

As a soloist, he performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony.

Conducting and teaching

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Lipkin studied conducting under Serge Koussevitzky and then apprenticed with George Szell at the Cleveland Orchestra.[5] He served as the Assistant Conductor for the New York Philharmonic. Later he was Music Director for the Joffrey Ballet and then conductor of the Long Island Symphony Orchestra.

He was a member of the faculty at Juilliard and also taught at Curtis, Manhattan School of Music, and the New England Conservatory.[2]

In 1987 he became artistic director of Kneisel Hall[6] in Blue Hill, Maine until his death in 2015.

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References

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