Background
Botstein, Leon was born on December 14, 1946 in Zurich, Switzerland. Son of Charles and Anne Botstein.
conductor college president music historian
Botstein, Leon was born on December 14, 1946 in Zurich, Switzerland. Son of Charles and Anne Botstein.
Bachelor (Woodrow Wilson fellow, Danforth Foundation fellow, Sloan Foundation fellow, Rockefeller fellow), University Chicago, 1967. Master of Arts, Harvard University, 1968. Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1985.
Teaching fellow Harvard University, 1968—1969. Lecturer history Boston University, 1969. Assistant to president New York City Board Education, 1969—1970.
President Franconia College, 1970—1975, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, since 1975, Leon Levy professor arts and humanities. President Simon's Rock College Bard, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, since 1979. Founder, artistic director Bard Music Festival, since 1990.
Music director American Symphony Orchestra, New York City, since 1992, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, since 2003. Artistic director American Russian Young Artists Orchestra, since 1995. Founder, principal conductor White Mountain Music and Art Festival, New Hampshire, 1973—1975.
Conductor Hudson Valley Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, 1981—1992. Guest conductor London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra, Düsseldorf Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Madrid Opera, New York City Opera. Other guest conducting appearances in Korea, Japan, Czech Republic, Philippines, Austria, Brazil, Lithuania, Romania, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Hungary.
Past chairman New York Council Humanties, Association Episcopalian Colleges, Harper's Magazine Foundation. Vice chair, treasurer OSI-New York. Member board OSI-Budapest, Central European University.
Member national council Chamber Music American. Member national advisory committee Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Visiting professor Hochschule fur angewandte Kunst, Vienna, 1988.
Visiting faculty Manhattan School Music, 1986. Chairman Salzburg Seminar, 1987. Member national advisory committee Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.
Member national advising committee Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Fellow American Academy Arts & Sciences.
Married Jill Lundquist, 1970. Children: Sarah, Abigail (deceased). Married Barbara Haskell, 1982.
Children: Clara, Maxim.