Timeline:
Born: March 21, 1935 in New York
1957 – Professional Conducting debut at Santa Fe Opera in “La serva padrona.”
1965 - Appointed Assistant Conductor of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
1966 – Faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (through 1972)
1967 – Conducts the first of the "Concerts in the Parks"
1969 – Becomes resident conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
1977 - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is established with Erich Kunzel as Music Director
1989 - Sony Tiffany Walkman Award for "visionary recording activities"
1990 – (Memorial Day) Conducts the first nationally broadcast concert from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol
1994 - Presidential Medal for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement, from Dartmouth
1995 - "Others" award from the Salvation Army in honor of his contributions to the city of Cincinnati
1996 - "Distinguished Alumnus Award" from the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity
1998 – Kunzel is the first conductor to present a symphonic pops concert in China
2007 - Celebrates 50th Anniversary as a professional conductor
2008 – Performs two concerts during opening weekend of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
August 1, 2009 - Final appearance with the Cincinnati Pops
Died: September 1, 2009 (74 years of age)
Directed the following orchestras:
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
National Symphony Orchestra
World Super Orchestra
Vienna Volksoper
Boston Pops Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
Rochester Pops
Naples Philharmonic Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
San Francisco Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
Houston Symphony
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Education:
Dartmouth University - 1957 graduate
Harvard University & Brown University - graduate studies
Awards
National Medal of Arts (presented by President Bush) - 2006
Erich Kunzel selected to the American Classical Music Hall of Fame - 2008
Billboard Magazine’s Classical Crossover Artist of the Year – 4 consecutive years
Won several Grammy Awards
Dubbed the "Prince of Pops" by the Chicago Tribune in 1977
Honorary Degrees from the following Colleges and Universities:
Doctor of Arts – Dartmouth College – June 2007
Xavier University
College of Mount St. Joseph
University of Cincinnati
Wilmington College
Northern Kentucky University
Other Important Facts:
Sold over 10 million albums, 56 of which reached the Billboard charts
Married for 44 years to his wife - Brunhilde Kunzel