A much-loved New York conductor has died, at 70

A much-loved New York conductor has died, at 70

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norman lebrecht

March 10, 2017

We have been notified of the death, from cancer, of Jonathan Strasser, after a richly variegated musical life.

He was a regular conductor with the  Orquesta Sinfonica Venezuela in Caracas and, nearer hme, music director of the Staten Island Symphony.

He was an accomplished violinist, and a teacher in the Precollege Division of the Manhattan School of Music.

He made a cameo film appearance in the 1980 movie, Fame.

One student writes: ‘Mr. Strasser was THE music teacher in NYC for all aspiring young musicians.’

The funeral is today at 11.30 at Riverside Memorial Chapel.

Comments

  • Helene Kamioner says:

    Boruch Dayan Emess. Thank you Norman for posting this. I knew Jonathan very well, and even represented him for a while. Through the years we grew apart, and I would not have known of his passing. He had a very musical brother who accompanied me in concert on occasion who passed away quite a few years ago, and no real family accept his students and friends to speak of. His father was a jeweler, and I will always remember when I visited Jonathan in his pristine upper west side brownstone, which he owned, the gems he would display so proudly on his blue velvet sofa. I am so sorry he is no longer with us.

  • george lewycky says:

    I found out on his Facebook page. I remember him from Facebook especially its final scene where they perform I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC and Jonathan is conducting.

    Look for it on Youtube
    I was luck to see him conduct in NYC back in 2014 !! Here is my best pic of him

    http://georgenet.net/celebrities/Musicians/JonathanStrasser1.jpg

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