Richard Stoehr in Philadelphia (Curtis Institute of Music) and Detroit, 1939-41
Richard Stoehr taught at the Curtis Institute at the personal invitation of Mrs. Mary Bok Curtis from 1939-1941. This class photo was taken during those years (Leonard Bernstein standing in the last row, left). Many thanks to Kristina Wilson, Archivist at the Curtis Institute, for identifying Bernstein’s classmates in this photo. Class members are listed below the photo.
Class photo from the Curtis Institute, Stoehr last row center, Leonard Bernstein last row left.
Front row from left: Veda Reynolds (Violin ’42), Virginia Parker (Piano ’42), True Chappell (Cello ’41)
Second row from left: Phyllis Moss (?) (Piano ’41), Leo Gomberg (Trumpet ’41), Florence Caplan (?) (Piano ’41), Jane Tyre (Double Bass ’42)
Third row from left: Noah Bielski (Violin ’40), Hershy Kay (Cello ’40), Benjamin Altman (Violin ’43), Eleanor Mitchell (?) (Flute ’42)
Fourth row from left: Robert Cornman (Piano ’41), Reba Robinson (Harp ’49), Waldemar Dabrowski (Accompanying ’41), Annette Elkanova (Piano ’41), Richard Purvis (?) (Organ ’40)
Back row from left: Leonard Bernstein (Conducting ’41), Leo Luskin (Accompanying ’41), Unknown, Dr. Richard Stoehr, John Simms (Piano ’47), Harry Safstrom (?) (Double Bass ’40), Irvin Duer (Percussion ’42)
Stoehr spent his first Christmas in the US visiting former students in Detroit, where he met the mayor of that city.
Richard Stoehr with the outgoing mayor of Detroit Richard Reading (right), December 1939.