(Jan. 11, 1910-Dec. 12, 1987). Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and trained in New York City, Izler Solomon began his conducting career at age 22 with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. In the ensuing 25 years, he led the Illinois Symphony, the Women’s Symphony of Chicago, and orchestras in Columbus (Ohio), Buffalo, and New Orleans. Solomon first appeared with the (ISO) in 1955 as a guest conductor, and, on April 14, 1956, was named the orchestra’s third conductor.
Solomon was a popular guest conductor throughout his 19 years with the ISO. In addition to guesting with most of the major American orchestras, he appeared in Canada, Israel, Germany, and Mexico. He also served as music director of the Wolf Trap Farm Center and headed both the Aspen Music Festival and the Flagstaff Summer Festival.
His numerous awards include the National Music Council’s Award of Honor, the Alice M. Ditson Award “for distinguished services to American music,” and an award from the National Association of American Conductors and Composers. He made more than 40 recordings and received six honorary doctorates.
From June 6-7, 1975, Solomon’s last pair of concerts were held to capacity houses at . The program of “All Time Favorites” included Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (), the Academic Festival Overture by Brahms, and Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
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