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Leonard Bernstein

Grammy Winners

Knowledge panel

Occupation

conductor

Born in

Lawrence

Born

August 25, 1918

Zodiac

Virgo

26,349

days lived

72

age at death

Born
August 25, 1918 in Lawrence
Died
October 14, 1990 in New York City (aged 72)
Zodiac
♍︎Virgo·horse 🐎
Updated Jul 2026

About

Leonard Bernstein was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first American-born conductor to receive international acclaim. Bernstein was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history" according to music critic Donal Henahan. Bernstein's honors and accolades include seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and 16 Grammy Awards as well as an Academy Award nomination. He received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1981.

Birth Chart

Natal Chart

Leonard's Birth Chart

Astrology
♈︎♉︎♊︎♋︎♌︎♍︎♎︎♏︎♐︎♑︎♒︎♓︎☉☽☿♀♂♃♄⛢♆♇
Fire
Earth
Air
Water
☉

Sun Sign

Virgo♍︎

☽

Moon Sign

Aries♈︎

Dominant Element

Earth

⚠️ Rising sign requires birth time for accurate calculation

Planetary positions calculated for August 25, 1918

Connections4

Simon Rattle

Simon Rattle

conductor

Pierre Boulez

Pierre Boulez

conductor

Ennio Morricone

Ennio Morricone

conductor

Claudio Abbado

Claudio Abbado

conductor

Day Lookup ToolDay MilestonesOn This Day
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⚡ Timeline
1990
Day 26,348
Age 72

Death of Leonard Bernstein

Confidence
96%
Oct 14, 1990

Leonard Bernstein dies in New York City at age 72.

1980
Day 22,409
Age 61

Receives Kennedy Center Honors

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1980

Bernstein receives Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement.

1978
Day 21,845
Age 59

Wife Felicia Montealegre Dies

Confidence
96%
Jun 16, 1978

His wife, Felicia Montealegre, dies of lung cancer.

1976
Day 20,948
Age 57

Returns to Conducting

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1976

Bernstein returns to conducting after a sabbatical.

1972
Day 19,487
Age 53

Takes Sabbatical

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1972

Bernstein takes a sabbatical from the New York Philharmonic.

1971
Day 19,372
Age 53

Mass Premieres

Confidence
96%
Sep 8, 1971

Bernstein's 'Mass' premieres at the Kennedy Center.

1970
Day 18,757
Age 51

Conducts Vienna Philharmonic

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1970

Bernstein frequently conducts the Vienna Philharmonic.

1969
Day 18,392
Age 50

Resigns from New York Philharmonic

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1969

Resigns as music director of the New York Philharmonic.

1965
Day 17,126
Age 46

Chichester Psalms Premieres

Confidence
96%
Jul 15, 1965

Bernstein's 'Chichester Psalms' premieres in New York.

1958
Day 14,374
Age 39

Becomes Music Director of NY Philharmonic

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1958

Appointed music director of the New York Philharmonic.

1957
Day 14,277
Age 39

West Side Story Premieres

Confidence
96%
Sep 26, 1957

'West Side Story' premieres on Broadway.

1953
Day 12,548
Age 34

Conducts La Scala

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1953

Bernstein conducts 'Medea' at La Scala.

1952
Day 12,334
Age 33

Trouble in Tahiti Premieres

Confidence
96%
Jun 1, 1952

Bernstein's opera 'Trouble in Tahiti' premieres.

1951
Day 12,068
Age 33

Marries Felicia Montealegre

Confidence
96%
Sep 9, 1951

Marries Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn.

1943
Day 9,212
Age 25

First Conducting Breakthrough

Confidence
96%
Nov 14, 1943

Substitutes for Bruno Walter at NY Philharmonic, gains fame.

1939
Day 7,434
Age 20

Graduates from Harvard

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1939

Graduates from Harvard University.

Day 7,434
Age 20

Studies at Curtis Institute

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1939

Attends and studies at the Curtis Institute of Music.

1935
Day 5,973
Age 16

Studies with Walter Piston

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1935

Studies music with Walter Piston at Harvard.

1928
Day 3,416
Age 9

Early Piano Lessons

Confidence
96%
Jan 1, 1928

Begins formal piano lessons.

1918
Day 0
Age 0

Birth of Leonard Bernstein

Confidence
96%
Aug 25, 1918

Born Louis Bernstein in Lawrence, Massachusetts.