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Leopold Stokowski

British-born American conductor of Polish and Irish descent (born 18 April 1882 in London, England, UK and died 13 September 1977 in Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England, UK). Married to pianist [a2194763] (1911-1923, divorce). One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appearance in the Disney film Fantasia. Stokowski was music director of the [a=Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra], [a=the Philadelphia Orchestra], the [a=NBC Symphony Orchestra], [a=The New York Philharmonic Orchestra], the [a=Houston Symphony Orchestra], the [a=Symphony of the Air] and many others. He was also the founder of [a=the All-American Youth Orchestra], the [a=New York City Symphony Orchestra], [a=the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra] and [a=the American Symphony Orchestra]. Stokowski conducted the music for and appeared in several Hollywood films, most notably Disney's Fantasia, and was a lifelong champion of contemporary composers, giving many premieres of new music during his 60-year conducting career. Stokowski, who made his official conducting debut in 1909, appeared in public for the last time in 1975 but continued making recordings until June 1977, a few months before his death at the age of 95.