Leyden, Norman

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Leyden, Norman

Leyden, Norman, American conductor; b. Springfield, Mass., Oct. 17,1917. He studied at Yale Univ. (B.A., 1938; Mus.B., 1939) and at Teachers Coll. of Columbia Univ. (M.A., 1965; Ed.D., 1968). He organized the Westchester Youth Sym. Orch. in White Plains, N.Y, in 1957, which he led until 1968. In 1974 he became assoc. conductor of the Ore. Sym. Orch. in Portland. He also pursued a successful career as a guest conductor with leading U.S. orchs. in concerts of popular fare.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire