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Born: 1901 - Danzig, Germany
Died: April 27, 2001 - Binghamton, New York, USA |
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The German-born American cellist, conductor and music teacher, Fritz M. Wallenberg, grew up in a home where music flowed freely. His father, an ophthalmologist, nurtured his son's musical aspirations witgh J.S. Bach Cantatas. A practical man, the elder Wallenberg insisted that his son study engineering as well his his beloved cello. He studied music - as well as engineering - in Munich, Danzig and Berlin.
After his studies, Fritz Wallenberg became conductor at the Shwerin Opera House. After Hitler came to power, he began conducting in Holland. He left Europe shortly before the beginning of World War II, moving to Colombia, where he conducted the chorus and taught cello at the Bogota Conservatory. He moved to the USA in 1940 and played cello in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for a year, before moving to New York City. Here he found work as a mechanical engineer and met his wife Marianne, a violinist. In 1947, after his job was transferred, he and his wife moved to Binghamton, where they founded the Binghamton Symphony, now known as the Binghamton Philharmonic. He conducted the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society for 25 years, retiring in 1975, and made enormous contributions to developing community interest in classical music. he was also a gifted teacher. Several of his students have gone on to become members of major orchestras.
Fritz Wallenberg, co-founder and conductor of the Binghamton Symphony and an 802 member since 1941, died on April 27, 2001, at the age of 100. He is survived by his wife Marianne, daughter Katherine, son James, and brothers Rudolf and Heinz. |
