David Katz 1924

American conductor who founded the Queens Symphony Orchestra (QSO) in 1953, which he conducted until he died of cancer on 20 May 1987. During the 1970s, the orchestra joined the union and became the first and only professional orchestra in Queens. David Katz was discovered by Leopold Stokowski, who he joined as associate conductor of The American Symphony Orchestra (ASO). Katz conducted the ASO at Carnegie Hall from 1961 till 1970. He also conducted the Oratorio Society of Queens from 1968 to 1969, succeeding Lawrence Rasmussen, and later conducted the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in 1971. By QSO's second season, children's concerts were added to the schedule, leading to David and Jeannie starting the Music BAG Program (Music for Boys and Girls). This program was designed to get kids involved with making music with the orchestra, and learning the history and theory of music. By the 1970s, the BAG Program was reaching over 17,000 school children annually throughout Queens. In 1969, Katz and his wife Jeanne Dale Katz founded Long Lake Camp, a summer camp in Long Lake, New York. The camp focuses on the fine and performing arts. Link to Wikipedia biography