Brusilow, Anshel

views updated

Brusilow, Anshel

Brusilow, Anshel, American violinist, conductor, and teacher; b. Philadelphia, Aug. 14, 1928. He studied violin with Zimbalist at the Curtis Inst. of Music in Philadelphia (1943) and with Jani Szanto at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (diploma, 1947), and conducting with Monteux (1944–54). In 1944 he made his debut as a violinist with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orch. He served as concertmaster of the New Orleans Sym. Orch. (1954–55), assoc. concertmaster of the Cleveland Orch. (1955–59), and concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orch. (1959–66). Brusilow also was founder- conductor of the Philadelphia Chamber Orch. (1961–65) and the Chamber Sym. of Philadelphia (1966–68). After serving as resident conductor (1970–71) and executive director and conductor (1971–73) of the Dallas Sym. Orch., he taught at North Tex. State Univ. in Dentón (1973–82), Southern Methodist Univ. in Dallas (1982–89), and the Univ. of North Tex. at Dentón (from 1989). From 1992 he also was music director of the Richardson (Tex.) Sym. Orch.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire