Wassili Leps

He graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Dresden, where he studied with Franz Wüllner, Wilhelm Rischbieter, Doering, Eduard Rappoldi, and Draeseke.

He conducted the orchestra at the opening night performances at the Loew's Lexington Avenue Opera House in 1923.

[9] He taught piano and voice out of a studio in Steinway Hall[10] and was the organist at St. Peter's Evangelical church in Brooklyn.

He wrote several japonisme operas set to texts by fellow Philadelphian John Luther Long (best remembered for authoring Madame Butterfly), with whom he was well acquainted.

[13] Awards began in 1956, past winners have included: Among his students were Phil Boutelje, Celeste de Longpré Heckscher, Jeanette MacDonald,[23] and Irving Gertz.