Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Born on August 25, 1918, in Lawrence, MA, to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrant parents, Leonard Bernstein was a child prodigy who began playing the piano at age 10.

Most children begin to say simple words at one, simple sentences at two, and are veritable chatterboxes at three. Not so Jeffrey Biegel, who, by age three, had not spoken a single word. Obviously concerned, his parents took him to a doctor, who tried communicating with him, but to no avail.

Our April 19th concert host, LaRob K. Rafael, is a prominent national voice for the advancement of classical music by minority composers and for minority audiences.