Albert Stoessel

Born in St. Louis in 1894, Albert Stoessel received his early musical training there before continuing his studies in violin, composition, and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. He made his debut as a violinist in Europe, toured with the Hess String Quartet, and returned to the United States to appear as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1915 and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1920.

Stoessel built a remarkably broad career as both performer and musical leader. He succeeded Walter Damrosch as conductor of the Oratorio Society of New York in 1921, became director of music at the Chautauqua Institution in 1923, and later took over the Worcester Music Festival. He also served as the first head of New York University's music department from 1923 to 1930 and later directed the opera and orchestra departments of the Juilliard Graduate School.

Remembered as a prominent figure in American classical music, Stoessel was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1931. He died in 1943 after collapsing on stage while conducting at an event for the American Academy of Arts and Letters.