Walter Hendl

Walter Hendl (January 12, 1917April 10, 2007) was an American conductor, composer and pianist.

Hendl was born in West New York, New Jersey. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and held various conducting and teaching positions throughout his career, including at Sarah Lawrence College, New York Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Eastman School of Music, and Erie Philharmonic. He also served as the first artistic director of the Ravinia Festival and was a professor of conducting at Mercyhurst College. A supporter of contemporary music, Hendl conducted several premieres and composed incidental music for stage productions. He recorded best-selling albums with RCA Victor, featuring prominent soloists like Jascha Heifetz and Van Cliburn. Hendl died in Pennsylvania after battling heart and lung disease. Provided by Wikipedia