Alexander Bernstein gives a lecture on the life and career of his father Leonard Bernstein.

Alexander Bernstein, the son of the late American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, visited the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in May 2015 and gave a lecture on the life of his father.

Bernstein was the first American conductor to receive worldwide acclaim. He was also a music educator. His works are widely performed at concert halls, Broadway theaters, opera houses and other venues.

During the lecture, young American pianist Justin Snyder played the maestro’s favorite pieces, “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Four Anniversaries for the Piano” which is dedicated to Bernstein’s piano instructor and longtime friend Helen Coates, best friend Serge Koussevitzky, composer David Diamond, and wife Felicia Montealegre.

Alexander also showed video clips of his father conducting “Cool”, a movement for his musical “West Side Story” and playing the piano.

Alexander is the chairman of the Bernstein Family Foundation and the founder of Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning. His lecture attracted a full house of students and faculties, including some international students.