Wassili Leps
Wassili Leps was a Russian-born American composer and conductor.
Leps was born near Saint Petersburg. He graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Dresden, where he studied with Franz Wüllner, Wilhelm Rischbieter, Doering, Eduard Rappoldi, and Draeseke.
He came to the United States in 1894. He first went to New Orleans, and then settled in Philadelphia, where he lived in The Powelton apartments and became active in Philadelphia's musical circles.
He directed and conducted the Philadelphia Operatic Society and the Philadelphia Quartette Club. He became assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, under Carl Pohlig until 1912 and then under Stokowski. He directed the Civic Symphony Orchestra. He taught piano, organ, and composition at Richard Zeckwer's Philadelphia Musical Academy and out of his own studio. He was organist and music director at the Episcopal Church of the Saviour, and at St. James Roman Catholic Church.
He hired Philadelphia Orchestra musicians to form the Wassili Leps Orchestra, which he took on tour, often with guest vocalists, and that group often performed at the summer music festivals in Willow Grove Park. In 1912, 1915, and 1916, the Wassili Leps Orchestra performed engagements at the Pittsburgh Exhibitions, performing Russian music, operatic excerpts, and featuring the work of local Pittsburgh composers Fidelis Zitterbart Jr., Ethelbert Nevin, and Adolph Foerster.
In the 1920s, he established himself in New York City. He conducted the orchestra at the opening night performances at the Loew's Lexington Avenue Opera House in 1923. He taught piano and voice out of a studio in Steinway Hall and was the organist at St. Peter's Evangelical church in Brooklyn.
In 1932, he became director and conductor of the 2-year-old Providence Symphony Orchestra in Rhode Island, a position he held until his death. He taught advanced classes at the Providence College of Music. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Brown University in 1934. He was the Rhode Island state director for the Federal Music Project.
As a composer, he wrote mostly for voice, at large and small scales. He wrote several japonisme operas set to texts by fellow Philadelphian John Luther Long, with whom he was well acquainted.
He was married and had a daughter, Olga Leps. He died in 1942 in Toronto.
Legacy
Hugh MacColl, Rhode Island composer and president of the Providence Symphony Orchestra, dedicated his Ballad for piano and orchestra, and his Arabs to Leps and the Providence Symphony Orchestra. MacColl's will established the Wassili Leps Foundation in 1953, through this foundation Brown University's Department of Music funded an award for and publication of compositions by Rhode Island composers. Awards began in 1956, past winners have included:- 1956: Edward Diemente, 1st prize for Postscript to War, a song setting poetry from a WWII Japanese soldier, and 2nd prize for wind quintet The White Deer, inspired by Thurber's novel.
- 1957: Walter Legawiec for Episodes for chorus and piano.
- 1964: Jack Gottlieb
- 1968: Wallace DePue, honorable mention
- unknown dates: Paul Nelson, Ned Rorem, Robert Revicki