For nearly a half century, Maestro Harry Levenson was identified with the heartbeat and soul of symphonic music in central Massachusetts. A superb performer, inspired teacher and community treasure, Mr. Levenson helped to advance the careers of thousands of musicians and made music come alive for over a million spectators.

He was born a U.S. citizen in 1905 in New York harbor, just inside the three mile limit, on a ship that was bringing his family to Ellis Island to start a new life in America. As a youth, he earned a living by playing the violin in theatre orchestras... the ones that played the musical scores that went with the silent movies. In 1930, a wealthy patron sponsored him for a two year stay in Paris after he had finished his studies at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. In Paris, he studied with renowned violinist William Cantrelle at the Paris Conservatory and conducted the L'Esprilova Ballet. Returning to Worcester, he became concertmaster of the Worcester Philharmonic and was active as a violin instructor.

Drafted in 1942, Mr. Levenson began his American conducting career with the Contact Caravan, the entertainment unit of the U.S. Air Force Special Services Office. While leading the "Caravan," he entertained the troops overseas with stars such as Al Jolson, Bob Hope and Rita Hayworth.

After the war, he returned to Worcester where he was a conductor of the Worcester County Light Opera Company from 1945 to 1950. Recognized for his exceptional conducting abilities,  Mr. Levenson during this period had  the  opportunity  to

hone his conducting skills with three of the world's greatest maestros: Pierre Monteux, Conductor of the Boston and San Francisco Symphonies; the Cleveland Orchestra's George Szell; and the Philadelphia Orchestra's Eugene Ormandy.

In 1947, Mr. Levenson founded a symphony orchestra which became the Worcester 0rchestra. Also in 1947, he founded the Worcester Youth Orchestra which was the third such youth orchestra in the country at that time. For the next 38 years, that ensemble and later as the Central Massachusetts Youth Symphony Orchestra provided thousands of young musicians with symphonic training, scholarships and the opportunity for advancement in the symphonic world.

In 1951, Mr. Levenson founded the ''Summer Family Concert Series'' in Worcester's Institute Park which continues to this day. Attracting thousands of people each year, the Institute Park concerts have become the most popular outdoor summer music series in central Massachusetts.

Always anxious to try something new and imaginative in music, Mr. Levenson founded the concert series at the Worcester Art Museum in which his orchestra played programs designed around exhibitions and also featured contemporary American works whose composers were invited to come and talk to the audience about their music. Alan Hovhaness, Ulysses Kay and Henry Cowell were among the outstanding living composers who were featured. Mr. Levenson also founded the "Concerts-in-the Round" series at the Worcester Memorial Auditorium. Sponsored by local industry, these concerts treated thousands of audiences in Worcester to a popular concert mix containing something for everyone - from Bach to Bernstein - and featuring world-class soloists.

Known also for introducing promising young talent to Worcester audiences, Mr. Levenson was responsible for furthering the careers of a number of internationally-recognized musicians on the concert scene today. Among those who were assisted by Mr. Levenson are world-renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson, clarinetist John Fullam and violinist Kurt Nikkanen.

Mr. Levenson also served on the Board of Directors of the American Symphony Orchestra League for 3 years and was the chairman with that institution of numerous symposia for conductors and composers.

In 1976, Mr. Levenson organized the Central Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra (today, the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra) and began a new era of high-quality performances which were instantly popular with the public and had enduring qualities. Among the noted concerts which the new symphony performed were concerts marking the opening of Mechanics Hall in 1977, the Worcester Centrum in 1982, and a performance with Luciano Pavarotti at the Centrum in 1985. Frequently performing at Mechanics Hall, the Orchestra's Holiday Pops Concert there is sold out months in advance each year. Mr. Levenson was also responsible for enabling the Central Massachusetts Symphony to acquire Tuckerman Hall, an exquisitely-designed neo-Baroque concert hall in downtown Worcester located across the street from the Worcester Art Museum.

For nearly 50 years of leading orchestras in Worcester, Mr. Levenson was presented with citations from former Presidents Carter and Bush, the U.S. House of Representatives, the Massachusetts State Senate, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; honorary doctorate degrees from Assumption College and Anna Maria College; the Community Service Medallion from Worcester State College; six keys to the city of Worcester; the proclamation of Harry Levenson Day in Worcester and throughout the state; and numerous citations from the American Federation of Musicians.

Although he is no longer with us, Harry Levenson and his legacy of superior accomplishments will live on in the enduring institutions which he created and for which he earned a cherished place in the heart of the grateful community in which he chose to reside.