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Leroy Anderson Centenary

Updated April 8, 2023

The Leroy Anderson Family collaborated with numerous organizations around the world to celebrate the Leroy Anderson Centenary in 2008.  Many concerts included Anderson's music in tribute to this popular American composer.

 

MASSACHUSETTS

Symphony Hall
Boston Pops Orchestra
Symphony Hall June 2008
Leroy Anderson Centenary

The Boston Pops Orchestra presented a tribute to Leroy Anderson at Symphony Hall in June of 2008.  Keith Lockhart conducted several of the composer's pieces after presenting a short film about his life.

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Charles Ansbacher, performed a September 2008 tribute to Leroy Anderson at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston.

The Cambridge Massachusetts Historical Society published an article about Leroy Anderson by his daughter Jane Anderson Vercelli.
More >>> Leroy_Anderson_Cambridge_Massachusetts.pdf

 

RECORDINGS

Leonard Slatkin
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
BBC Concert Orhestra
Leroy Anderson Centenary

Leonard Slatkin conducted all of Leroy Anderson's works with the BBC Concert Orchestra for the Naxos label in honor of Leroy Anderson's Centenary.  The five discs include all of Leroy Anderson's previously published works plus other previously unpublished and/or unrecorded works.  They were recorded at The Colosseum, Town Hall, Watford, England and released in 2008.  Liner notes for all 5 CDs were written by music critic Richard Ginnell.  They can be purchased on Amazon.

 

BROADCASTS

NPR Logo


A special hour-long radio program titled A Leroy Anderson Christmas Festival was broadcast on over 300 public radio stations across the USA.  The program was hosted by conductor Leonard Slatkin and the composer's son Kurt Anderson.  It featured recorded performances of Leroy Anderson's Christmas Music with Leonard Slatkin conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Leroy Anderson conducting his "Pops" Concert Orchestra.  More >>> NPR_Leroy_Anderson.pdf

PBS Logo


The one-hour documentary film Once Upon A Sleigh Ride, The Life and Music of Leroy Anderson was broadcast on over 200 PBS television stations across the USA.  The program chronicles the life and work of composer Leroy Anderson through interviews with colleagues, family members and others who worked with him, as well as archival and contemporary performances of his works.  The film was created by award winning director Peter Rosen and produced by PBS, SVT - Swedish Television and the Leroy Anderson Family.

 

CONNECTICUT

USMA Band


The United States Military Academy Band from West Point, New York performed a A Tribute to Leroy Anderson in Anderson's hometown of Woodbury on the composer's birthday, June 29, 2008.  More >>> Leroy_Anderson_USMA_Band_Concert.pdf

The United States Congress issued a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition that acknowledged "Leroy Anderson's invaluable contribution to America's music heritage."

Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell recognized Leroy Anderson's significant contribution to American music by declaring June 29, 2008 Leroy Anderson Day in Connecticut.  More >>> Leroy_Anderson_Day_State_of_Connecticut.pdf

 

Cancellation


The U.S. Post Office in Woodbury, Connecticut issued a commemorative postal cancellation designed by Anderson's son-in-law, architect Peter Vercelli.  The special cancellation and a commemorative booklet written by Anderson's daughter Jane Anderson Vercelli were available for a month starting on June 28, 2008.

Woodbury First Selectman Paul Hinckley presented a proclamation regarding Anderson's contribution to American music to Mrs. Leroy Anderson at the Woodbury Post Office celebration on June 28.  The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra brass quintet played several compositions by Anderson for the audience gathered outside on the lawn.

 

Palace Theater


Conductor Leif Bjaland and the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra presented a concert titled Leroy Anderson Centennial Pops Celebration at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut on May 10, 2008.  1200 people attended this tribute in the city nearest Anderson's hometown of Woodbury, Connecticut.

 

EXHIBITIONS

Library


A Special Exhibit about Leroy Anderson and his music, created by the composer's family was on display for a month in 2008 at both the Woodbury Public Library and the Southbury Public Library.  The reception for the opening of the Southbury Library display of the Leroy Anderson exhibit included a performance of Leroy Anderson's music.  More >>> Leroy_Anderson_Exhibition_Southbury_Library.pdf

The Yale University Music Library honored the Leroy Anderson Centenary with a special exhibit.  Read more >>> Leroy_Anderson_Exhibition_Yale_Music_Library.pdf

The American Swedish Institute brought the special exhibit to Minneapolis where it was presented with other physical memorabilia of Leroy Anderson.  The reception for the opening of the American Swedish Institute exhibition about Leroy Anderson included a performance of Leroy Anderson's music.

More >>> Leroy_Anderson_Exhibitions.pdf

 

SWEDEN

Complete information about Leroy Anderson Centennial Concerts in Sweden >>>Leroy Anderson Jubileums Konserter_Sverige.pdf 4.5 mb


100 Ar


A year-long festival for Leroy Anderson in Kristianstad, Sweden near Leroy's father's birthplace, was the largest celebration for the composer in the world.  Several Anderson family members from the U.S. attended a special performance in Kristianstad on April 26, 2008 with over 700 musicians performing Leroy Anderson's music for an audience of 2,000 people.  More >>> Kristianstads Musikskolan.pdf.



Kristanstad


The KTH Akademiska kappell led by Gunnar Julin, music director, presented a concert of seventeen compositions by Leroy Anderson in celebration of the Swedish American composer's centenary.  The concert took place in the grand music hall at Nybrokajen 11 in Stockholm, Sweden on 20 april 2008 at kl. 15.00. Nybrokajen 11, is the former Swedish Royal Conservatory of Music.  More >>> Leroy_Anderson_KTHs_Akademiska_kapell.pdf.


Gunnar Julin, music director of the Akademiska kapell at the KTH (Royal Tecnhical College) in Stockholm gave a concert of music by Leroy Anderson and of Lars Erik Larsson at Kristianstad's Holy Trinity Church.  The concert took place on October 12, 2008, featuring two composers with Scanian roots.  Larsson was born in Åkarp, Anderson's father came from nearby Övarp.  For more information, see the file: Kristianstads_Heliga_Trefaldighets_Kyrka.pdf.


sveriges radio


Sveriges Radio (SR - Swedish Radio) featured the music of Leroy Anderson in several broadcasts throughout 2008.  Kristjan Saag of SR attended the April 26 2008 concert in Kristianstad and interviewed Leroy Anderson's son Rolf Anderson and grandson Anders Vercelli for a program on Klassiskt radio magasin which was broadcast later in June 2008.  For more information, see the file: Sveriges_Radio_Leroy_Anderson.pdf.

 

The Leroy Anderson Foundation is writing a history about the composer Leroy Anderson. Please help by sending information about your performances of Leroy Anderson's music.  You can help by participating in this history project about the American composer.  For more information, see the file: Leroy_Anderson_Concerts_Europe.pdf 4 mb.  Thank you very much.