The Elie Siegmeister Society

c/o The Prof. Edgar H. Lehrman Memorial Foundation
for Ethics, Religion, Science & the Arts

10 Nob Hill Gate, Roslyn, NY 11576
Tel. Mondays: (516) 626-0238
Other days after 10am: (516) 256-4209
FAX: (516) 256-4210

e-mail: ljlehrman@gmail.com

Elie Siegmeister (Jan. 15, 1909-Mar. 10, 1991) was, in the words of Robert Sherman,
"one of our giants." The composer of 9 operas, 9 symphonies, ballets, chamber works,
and over 100 songs, he was also the inspiring teacher of numerous composers, including
Stephen Albert, Sy Brandon, Herbert Deutsch, Daniel Dorff, Barry Drogin, Gerald Humel,
Stephen Lawrence, Leonard Lehrman, Joseph Pehrson, Richard White, and many others.

On the occasion of his 90th birthday, The Elie Siegmeister Society was founded by
Leonard Lehrman and Helene Williams. Members were invited to contribute $10 a year (or more)
in support of the following goals, as many as possible to be achieved by
January 15, 2009, the date of The Elie Siegmeister Centennial:
1) publication & distribution of a complete catalog of works by and about Elie Siegmeister
including scores, books, articles, letters, recordings, tapes, videos, and oral histories
2) premieres and recordings of all unperformed and unrecorded Siegmeister works
3) completion and publication of an authorized biography of Siegmeister
4) preparation and publication of a critical edition of Siegmeister's works
5) an annual report on performances, recordings, and publications of Siegmeister's works
and progress toward all of the above.

For a list of Siegmeister performances and recordings by the founders of the Society, please go to
http://www.courtstreetmusic.org/HWLLSiegmeister.html

Click here for the latest issue of the Elie Siegmeister Society Newsletter.

In 2008, we are offering the following premiums:

Capstone CD #CPS-8667 Helene Williams Sings More Songs of Love (1999), incl. 3 of Elie's;
Original Cast CD #OC 6055 Abel Meeropol Centennial Concert (2003), incl. 8 numbers by Elie;
Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus Concert at Great Neck House, 2/26/06 CD, incl. 4 by Elie;
Manhattan premiere of "I Have A Dream" & world prem. of "Lonely Star" 1/15/89 DVD.
This last item has been generously licensed by Carl Fischer, with fees waived.

For contributions of $35 or more, choose any 1 item.
For contributions of $50 or more, choose 2.
For $75 or more, choose 3. For $100+ get all 4.
Tax-deductible checks should be made out to:
The Prof. Edgar H. Lehrman Memorial Foundation -
with the memo: Elie Siegmeister Society

In 2009, the following performances of Siegmeister works are planned:

Fri. Jan. 2 8pm BargeMusic: music by Elie Siegmeister & his students
----voice & piano recital: Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman
Sun. Jan. 4 2:30pm Great Neck House
----voice & piano recital: Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman
Sat. Jan. 10 11am National Opera Association convention, Washington DC presentation
----by Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Vrenios, George Shirley, Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman
Sun. Jan. 11 3pm Great Neck Library choral & solo vocal concert
----including I Have A Dream cantata
----Helene Williams, Ivan Thomas, Lars Woodul, Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus;
----Leonard Lehrman, cond.; Mimi Stern-Wolfe, piano
Thu. Jan. 15 7pm Massapequa Library (Bar Harbor) American Chamber Ensemble
----woodwind music - Naomi Drucker et al - plus guest artists
----Nancy Deutsch, Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman
Thu. Jan. 22 2pm Bethpage Public Library
----voice & piano recital: Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman
Sun. Jan. 18 3pm United Methodist Church of Huntington/Cold Spring Harbor
----choral & solo vocal concert: including I Have A Dream cantata
----Helene Williams, Ivan Thomas, Lars Woodul, Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus;
----Leonard Lehrman, cond.; Mimi Stern-Wolfe, piano
Sun. Jan. 25 3pm Downtown Music Productions: repeat of I Have A Dream cantata
----at St. Marks-in-the-Bowery, Manhattan
Sun. Mar. 8 3pm Syosset Public Library
----voice & piano recital: Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman
Sun. Mar. 29 Alan Mandel performs Piano Concerto at National Gallery
Sun. Mar. 29 Hofstra Celebrates Elie Siegmeister, 2pm Monroe Auditorium
----Robert Spiotto narrates "Dick Whittington & His Cat." Other performers include
----Herbert Beattie, Nancy Deutsch, Naomi Drucker, Leonard Lehrman, Helene Williams
Sun. Apr. 19 3pm Queens College (probably Choral Room) choral & vocal music,
----including ensemble conducted by James John
Wed. May 6 8pm NYU music by Elie Siegmeister & his students

Click here for photographs of the 1989 French premiere of Siegmeister's opera, The Mermaid in Lock No. 7

Click here for the transcript of Bruce Duffie's March 1987 interview with Siegmeister.

© 2008 Leonard Lehrman | last update Mar. 26, 2008