Leonard De Paur | |
|---|---|
 De Paur conducting | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1914-11-18)November 18, 1914 Summit,New Jersey, United States |
| Died | November 7, 1998(1998-11-07) (aged 83) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Choral director, composer, conductor |
| Years active | 1936–1988 |
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 You may hear Leonard De Paur conducting his arrangements of music for Christmas on the albumCalypso Christmas with the De Paur Chorus in 1956Here on archive.org |
Leonard Etienne De Paur (November 18, 1914 – November 7, 1998) was an Americancomposer, choral director, and arts administrator.
Leonard De Paur was born inSummit, New Jersey to Hettie Carson de Paur and Ernst Leonard.[1] He moved toJersey City with his mother, after his parents separated, and attended the local public schools.[2] His musical studies began at theManual Training Institute inBordentown, New Jersey, where he played oboe and saxophone.[2][3] He attended with Frederick Work, brother of John Wesley Work II and uncle ofJohn Wesley Work III.
De Paur began tocompose and arrange while he was a member of theHall Johnson Choir. He sang in the baritone section and served as assistantconductor alongsideJester Hairston. In 1936, De Paur became the musical director of the Negro Unit of theFederal Theater Project inNew York City.[2] During this time he was also enrolled atColumbia University and later went on to study at the Institute of Musical Arts, now theJuilliard School.
In 1941 he collaborated with the conductorAlexander Smallens and the orchestral accordionistJohn Serry Sr. in an oratorio production ofVirgil Thomson's operaFour Saints in Three Acts at New York City'sTown Hall.[4] De Paur enlisted in theUnited States Army Air Forces in 1942, was promoted to Lieutenant, and became the music director of the playWinged Victory.[5] During a stint in the infantry, he was assigned to an all male-chorus.[6]The De Paur Infantry Chorus was made up of 35 men from the 372ndGlee Club. Their performances consisted ofart song repertory,Caribbeanfolk music,spirituals,work songs and military songs. In 1946, the De Paur Infantry Chorus was signed toColumbia Artists Management andColumbia Records. The chorus now consisted of men from the 372nd Glee Club, other branches ofArmed services, andcivilians. For ten years the De Paur Infantry Chorus was the top performing group at Columbia. In 1957, De Paur discontinued the chorus and produced the De Paur Opera Gala, which featuredVirgil Thomson'sFour Saints in Three Acts,George Gershwin'sPorgy and Bess andOscar Hammerstein'sCarmen Jones.
In the early 1960s, the De Paur Chorus was formed to tour 18African nations under theUnited States Information Agency.[2] Shortly after the chorus disbanded in 1968, De Paur became the associate director of theLincoln Center International Choral Festival. A few years later he was named the director of community relations. He created the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival[7] and the Community Holiday Concert Series. He retired from the Lincoln Center in 1988.
During his career De Paur received honorary Doctor of Music degree fromLewis and Clark College. He was the recipient of theUniversity of Pennsylvania Glee Club Award of Merit and an honorary member of theMorehouse College Glee Club.[8]
De Paur died inManhattan on November 7, 1998.
