Nicolas Slonimsky

April 15] 1894 – December 25, 1995), born Nikolai Leonidovich Slonimskiy (Russian: Никола́й Леони́дович Слoнимский), was a Russian-born American musicologist, conductor, pianist, and composer.

[citation needed] In Rochester, Slonimsky continued his composition and conducting studies, with Albert Coates and Eugene Goossens, and accompanied Rosing at many vocal recitals, including a performance at Carnegie Hall in October 1924.

Slonimsky was a great champion of contemporary music,[3] and through his interest in performing it met Henry Cowell and Charles Ives.

He conducted the world premieres of Ives' Three Places in New England in 1931 (in New York's Town Hall), Edgard Varèse's Ionisation for thirteen percussionists in 1933, and various other works.

[a] In 1932, Slonimsky conducted a series of concerts in Havana highlighting Ives, Ruggles, Cowell, Amadeo Roldán and Alejandro García Caturla.

Throughout his life, Slonimsky wrote extensively for periodicals and newspapers, produced program and liner notes, and contributed to numerous reference works.

He possessed a sly sense of humor, and was a regular guest on radio and television programs, including Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.

New York public television station WNET filmed an interview with him for the "Aging" segment of the PBS series The Mind.

Then in 1988, he published his autobiography, Perfect Pitch, filled with anecdotes about musical figures of the 20th century, including his mentors and colleagues.

A documentary of his life including video of this visit, A Touch of Genius, was broadcast by Film America on his 100th birthday.