Distributed June 30, 2003
For Immediate Release

News Service Contact: Mary Jo Curtis



Noted conductor Benjamin Zander to speak July 2

Distinguished conductor, teacher and author Benjamin Zander will speak about his work on Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the Salomon Center for Teaching, located on The College Green. This event, sponsored by the Office of Summer Studies, is free and open to the public.


PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Office of Summer Studies will present Benjamin Zander, noted conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, who will speak about his work on Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the Salomon Center for Teaching on The College Green. The public is welcome, and admission is free.

A native of England, Zander began his early musical training with cello lessons and attempts at composition under the guidance of his father. At age 9, he attracted the attention of England’s leading composer, Benjamin Britten, who invited Zander and his family to spend the next three summers at his home. At 15, he left school and moved to Florence, where he studied for five years with the great Spanish cello virtuoso, Gaspar Cassadó, who became his teacher and mentor for the following five years. He completed his cello training at the State Academy in Cologne, then earned a degree in English literature at London University in 1964, winning a Harkness Commonwealth Fellowship for post-graduate work in America. Zander then moved to Boston, where he continues to make his home, and joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory in 1967 as a cello and chamber music teacher. He has also been conductor of the conservatory’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra for 31 years, has taken the orchestra on 12 international tours, and has made five commercial recordings and several PBS specials.

Zander was the conductor of the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston for seven years prior to becoming conductor of the newly established Boston Philharmonic Orchestra in 1986. During 24 seasons, his repertoire has ranged from Bach to specially commissioned works, with an emphasis on late Romantic and early 20th-century repertoire, particularly the symphonies of Gustav Mahler. During the past decade, Zander has been a guest conductor all over the world, including five concerts with the Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv. He has also toured with the newly formed Youth Orchestra of the Americas to Washington, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. He has become recognized as one of the great teachers of the era, building audiences for classical music everywhere through radio and television appearances, pre-concert lectures and master classes.

The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Zander has been featured in profiles on the BBC and on CBS’ 60 Minutes. He has made numerous recordings, and he travels the world speaking to organizations about leadership. He co-authored the best-selling book, The Art of Possibility (2000, the Harvard Business School Press), with his partner, psychotherapist Rosamund Zander.

For further information on this event, call (401) 863-9713.

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