Hyman Schandler
Encyclopedia
Hyman Schandler was a violin
ist, teacher
, and conductor
. He was most notably known for being the founder and conductor of the oldest women's orchestra in the world, the Cleveland Women's Orchestra
.
, Latvia
. He emigrated to Cleveland at the age of three with his mother and three sisters. His father, a tailor, had arrived two years earlier. At the age of nine, Hyman Schandler began his studies at Bailey's Music School, which later became the Cleveland Music School Settlement. He went to Central High School and West High Scool. At the age of 18, Mr. Schandler began conducting instrumental groups and teaching the violin at the settlement.
and became second violinist. He soon became principal second violinist, a position he held for 35 years. He performed with the orchestra for 48 years. In 1931, Schandler traveled to Salzburg, Austria
, to study violin with Theodore Mueller and conducting with Herbert von Karajan
. There, he performed with the Salzburg Festival Orchestra and Salzburg Mozarteum.
In 1935, Hyman Schandler formed the Cleveland Women's Orchestra
, an orchestra composed primarily of 60 women musicians, ranging from sixteen to seventy-five years old. Their first concert was on Nov. 17, 1936, at Severance Hall
. Since then, the orchestra has played annual concerts at Severance Hall as well as several concerts in nursing homes, hospitals, and other outreach programs. Schandler remained as the orchestra's conductor for 55 years until his death in 1990. He was succeeded by Robert Cronquist as musical director.
Following his retirement in 1975, Schandler played for two seasons in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
as principal guest conductor, which was then led by Louis Lane. During this time he commuted back to Cleveland to continue conducting the Cleveland Women's Orchestra.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He was most notably known for being the founder and conductor of the oldest women's orchestra in the world, the Cleveland Women's Orchestra
Cleveland Women's Orchestra
The Cleveland Women's Orchestra is an American orchestra made up entirely of female musicians, based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1935 and performed its first concert in 1936. It is the oldest women's orchestra in the world....
.
Early life
Schandler was born in RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. He emigrated to Cleveland at the age of three with his mother and three sisters. His father, a tailor, had arrived two years earlier. At the age of nine, Hyman Schandler began his studies at Bailey's Music School, which later became the Cleveland Music School Settlement. He went to Central High School and West High Scool. At the age of 18, Mr. Schandler began conducting instrumental groups and teaching the violin at the settlement.
Career
In 1927, Schandler auditioned for conductor Nikolai Sokoloff of the Cleveland OrchestraCleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
and became second violinist. He soon became principal second violinist, a position he held for 35 years. He performed with the orchestra for 48 years. In 1931, Schandler traveled to Salzburg, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, to study violin with Theodore Mueller and conducting with Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
. There, he performed with the Salzburg Festival Orchestra and Salzburg Mozarteum.
In 1935, Hyman Schandler formed the Cleveland Women's Orchestra
Cleveland Women's Orchestra
The Cleveland Women's Orchestra is an American orchestra made up entirely of female musicians, based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1935 and performed its first concert in 1936. It is the oldest women's orchestra in the world....
, an orchestra composed primarily of 60 women musicians, ranging from sixteen to seventy-five years old. Their first concert was on Nov. 17, 1936, at Severance Hall
Severance Hall
Severance Hall is a concert hall located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The hall has been the home of the Cleveland Orchestra since its opening on February 5, 1931...
. Since then, the orchestra has played annual concerts at Severance Hall as well as several concerts in nursing homes, hospitals, and other outreach programs. Schandler remained as the orchestra's conductor for 55 years until his death in 1990. He was succeeded by Robert Cronquist as musical director.
Following his retirement in 1975, Schandler played for two seasons in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
as principal guest conductor, which was then led by Louis Lane. During this time he commuted back to Cleveland to continue conducting the Cleveland Women's Orchestra.