Albert Stoessel papers, Additions

1915-1955

Albert Stoessel (1894-1943) was an American violinist, conductor, and composer. Born in St. Louis, he received his early musical training there. In his late teens, he studied violin, composition, and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he made his debut as a violinist. After a European tour as a member of the Hess String Quartet, he returned to the United States, debuting in 1915 as violin soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. In 1920, he performed as soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and toured with the tenor Enrico Caruso; the following year he helped to found the American Music Guild.

Stoessel succeeded Walter Damrosch as conductor of the Oratorio Society of New York in 1921, became director of music of the Chautauqua Institution in 1923, and succeeded Henry Hadley as conductor of the Worcester (Massachusetts) Music Festival in 1925; he held all three posts until his death. He also appeared as guest conductor of the symphony orchestras of Boston, Cleveland, and St. Louis, among others.

From 1923 to 1930, Stoessel established and was the first head of the music department of New York University. In 1927, he accepted the directorship of the opera and orchestra departments of the Juilliard Graduate School. He was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1931.

Stoessel collapsed and died on stage on May 12, 1943, while conducting an ensemble at an event for the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Sources:

Gustave Reese and Michael Meckna. "Stoessel, Albert." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed September 18, 2013, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/26816.

"Stoessel's Career Started In Europe." The New York Times, May 13, 1943, p. 15.