Fabien Sevitzky
Encyclopedia
Fabien Sevitzky was a Russian-born American conductor. He was the nephew of Serge Koussevitsky.
Sevitzky became music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
in 1937, after his first conducting appearance with the ensemble in the winter of 1936. He served in the post until 1955.
Sevitzky married the harpist Mary Spaulding in 1959, and the couple subsequently moved to Miami to take up faculty positions at the University of Miami
. In addition, Ms. Spaulding gave private harp lessons. Sevitzky became a guest conductor of the University of Miami orchestra after his arrival, and subsequently its permanent conductor in 1963. He was a champion of the music of William Grant Still
and commissioned works from Still, including the Threnody: In Memory of Jan Sibelius. Sevitzky conducted the premiere of Still's opera Highway 1, U.S.A. in 1960. He also served as music director of the Greater Miami Philharmonic Orchestra, until his sudden death in 1967.
Sevitzky's wife Mary (later Mary Spaulding Portanova) survived him.
Sevitzky became music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana.Annually, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs 200 concerts for over 350,000 people. It is the largest performing arts organization in Indiana. The ISO is currently one of only 18 American...
in 1937, after his first conducting appearance with the ensemble in the winter of 1936. He served in the post until 1955.
Sevitzky married the harpist Mary Spaulding in 1959, and the couple subsequently moved to Miami to take up faculty positions at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. In addition, Ms. Spaulding gave private harp lessons. Sevitzky became a guest conductor of the University of Miami orchestra after his arrival, and subsequently its permanent conductor in 1963. He was a champion of the music of William Grant Still
William Grant Still
William Grant Still was an African-American classical composer who wrote more than 150 compositions. He was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major...
and commissioned works from Still, including the Threnody: In Memory of Jan Sibelius. Sevitzky conducted the premiere of Still's opera Highway 1, U.S.A. in 1960. He also served as music director of the Greater Miami Philharmonic Orchestra, until his sudden death in 1967.
Sevitzky's wife Mary (later Mary Spaulding Portanova) survived him.