Harley Hamilton

Background

Hamilton was born in 1861 in New York by Susan C. Williams and Henry W. Burnham.

Career

Hamilton was one of the first symphony American directors in those years, when most of conductors where born and trained abroad. Shortly before his mother"s death, he was adopted by Erasmus H. Hamilton, from whom he took his name. He worked with both amateur and professional orchestras.

Hamilton formed the Los Angeles Women"s Orchestra in 1893 and the Los Angeles Symphony in 1897.

Both orchestras became quite popular and contributed to the development of symphonic music in Los Angeles area. He resigned from both in 1913, probably due to advancing deafness.

Achievements

• He was the founder and first conductor of the Los Angeles Women"s Orchestra in 1893 and of the Los Angeles Symphony in 1897.

Membership

In 1881, when the Community dissolved, he started travelling as a member of a minstrel group and in 1883 he arrived to Los Los Angeles He worked in Los Angeles both as a printer and as a musician, with several experiences as director and member of choirs, bands and orchestras.