Jonathan Sternberg (November 6, 1919 – March 19, 2018) was an American conductor, music educator, and author. He is noted for his work with symphonic and opera ensembles in the United States, as well as for his long tenure as a professor of music at the University of Washington, where he directed the university’s orchestra and contributed to the development of its conducting program.
Early life and education
Born in New York City, Sternberg pursued musical studies at the Juilliard School, earning a Bachelor of Music degree. He later completed graduate work at Harvard University, focusing on musicology and conducting.
Career
After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Sternberg began his professional conducting career with guest appearances for regional orchestras. In the 1950s he held the position of associate conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and subsequently served as music director of the New Orleans Symphony.
In 1960 Sternberg joined the faculty of the University of Washington School of Music. At the university he founded and conducted the UW Symphony Orchestra, mentored numerous students who went on to professional conducting careers, and authored several texts on orchestral conducting techniques. He also maintained an active guest‑conducting schedule, leading performances with the Seattle Philharmonic, the Oregon Symphony, and various opera companies.
Publications
Sternberg authored the influential conducting manual The Conducting Experience (1974), which is widely referenced in conservatory curricula. He contributed articles on orchestral repertoire and rehearsal methodology to scholarly journals such as The Musical Quarterly.
Later life and legacy
Sternberg retired from full‑time teaching in 1990 but continued to conduct and lecture until his death in Seattle, Washington. He is remembered for his contributions to American orchestral music education and for fostering a generation of conductors through his pedagogical work.
References
- University of Washington School of Music archives, faculty records.
- Obituary, Seattle Times, March 22, 2018.
- Sternberg, Jonathan. The Conducting Experience. New York: Music Press, 1974.
This entry reflects information documented in reliable biographical and institutional sources.
