Lenny: Portrait of an American Maestro

Larger than life, Leonard Bernstein was the most brilliant and beloved American musician of the 20th century. Composer, conductor, pianist, teacher, writer, socialite, tennis player, concert innovator, and prodigiously talented crossword puzzler, Bernstein was an international superstar who lived a full and very public life. His multi-faceted career is the stuff of legend, from On the Town and West Side Story through three symphonies, Chichester Psalms, and Serenade. In this class we will explore his life and music with recordings, videos, and stories. Featured will be a very special appearance by Jamie Bernstein, who will share stories and insights about her father and his music.

Faculty Bio

Violist and conductor Ben Simon has performed internationally with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras. Music Director of the SF Chamber Orchestra for 21 years, he has taught at Harvard, Stanford and UC Berkeley. Inspired by Leonard Bernstein, Ben's passion is sharing his love for classical music.

This is an In-Person + Livestreamed Course

• Classes meet in person at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center (Community Hall) at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
• Classes will also stream live simultaneously
• Classes will not be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Thursday, Oct. 17, and ends on Thursday, Nov. 7
• Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (10–noon)
• All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through December 31