Jacob Avshalomov facts for kids

Jacob Avshalomov (born March 28, 1919 – died April 25, 2013) was a famous American composer and conductor. A composer writes music, and a conductor leads an orchestra or choir. He was known for leading the Portland Youth Philharmonic for many years.

Early Life and Learning

The Eastman School of Music

Jacob Avshalomov was born on March 28, 1919, in Tsingtao, China. His father, Aaron Avshalomov, was also a composer. Jacob learned music from his father from a young age.

When Jacob was eight, he visited Portland, Oregon, with his parents. They stayed with Jacques Gershkovitch, a conductor. The family later returned to China because they did not have permanent visas.

Jacob went to British and American schools. Before he was 15, he started working as a factory supervisor. He worked in cities like Tientsin, Shanghai, and Beijing for four years. Jacob was also good at sports. He even won the diving championship for North China!

In 1937, Jacob helped his father with ballet shows in Shanghai. He also worked on music scores. When Japan invaded China, he joined a British volunteer group. Later that year, he moved to the United States with his mother.

Jacob studied music in Los Angeles for a year. Then, he spent two years at Reed College in Portland, Oregon (1939–1941). During this time, he studied with Gershkovitch. He also played in the Portland Junior Symphony. After that, he studied composition at the Eastman School of Music for two years. During World War II, he lived in London. There, he conducted a performance of a famous piece by Johann Sebastian Bach.

His Career

After the war, Avshalomov became a teacher at Columbia University in New York. He taught music there from 1946 to 1954. He also led the first American performances of some important musical works. He helped guide arts and humanities programs for the US government in the 1960s and 70s.

Leading the Portland Youth Philharmonic

In 1953, the conductor of the Portland Junior Symphony, Jacques Gershkovitch, passed away. Jacob Avshalomov was one of the guest conductors who filled in. In 1954, Jacob was chosen to be the orchestra's main conductor.

He led the orchestra for 40 years! During his time, he encouraged the orchestra to travel to other countries. He also helped them make many recordings. The Portland Junior Symphony was the first orchestra in the Pacific Northwest to record its music. In 1970, he led the group on their first international tour.

In 1978, the orchestra changed its name to the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP). Jacob Avshalomov retired in 1995. He had conducted about 640 concerts and listened to 10,000 auditions!

Music He Wrote

Jacob Avshalomov wrote many pieces for orchestras. One of his works, "How Long Oh Lord," was recorded in the 1960s. Other pieces he wrote include "Phases of the Great Land" and "Inscriptions at the City of Brass."

In 1959, he wrote "The Oregon." This symphony celebrated 100 years since Oregon became a U.S. state. A special thing about his music is that the rhythm often changes very quickly. He also wrote "The Thirteen Clocks" and "Symphony of Songs."

Awards and Honors

Granite star along Portland's Main Street Walk of Stars recognizing Jacob Avshalomov

Jacob Avshalomov received many awards for his work. He earned a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951. This is a special award given to people who have shown great ability in arts or sciences. In 1953, he was recognized for his choral work Tom o' Bedlam.

Other awards he received include the Bloch Award and the Ditson Conductor's Award. In 1994, he was named a "Portland First Citizen." This honor is given to people who have done great things for their community. In 2011, he was honored for his amazing contributions to Portland's art community. A granite star was placed on Main Street in Portland to celebrate him.

His Death

Jacob Avshalomov passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Portland, Oregon, in 2013.

Recordings

• Avshalomov: Fabled Cities (1998, Albany), includes "City Upon a Hill" (1965), "Inscriptions at the City of Brass" (1957), Symphony: The Oregon and "Up at Timberline" (1987)

See also

• List of Eastman School of Music people
• List of Jewish American composers
• List of Reed College people
• Music education for young children
• Music education in the United States