Russell Steinberg

Russell Steinberg (born March 4, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA) is an American classical composer. He is most known for his orchestral piece Cosmic Dust, performed at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, and commissioned by the New West Symphony, conducted by Marcelo Lehninger in a concert alongside Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, with Sonia Goulart as soloist, and . His known works include solo, chamber, orchestra, and film music. He is also known for his 6-minute “Palisades is Gone” tribute to the 2025 wildfires’ devastation in Los Angeles.
Mentorship
Steinberg studied music composition with Leon Kirchner, Arthur Berger, and Elaine Barkin, and conducts the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra and performs on both piano and classical guitar.
Background
Steinberg honed his piano talents with Earle Voorhies and Salome Arkatov,
Steinberg is also focused on music education. He conducts the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, an ensemble consisting of 120 students from over 60 schools. In Summer 2017 the orchestra performed in Italy for its second international tour, which Steinberg conducted. Steinberg is also a popular speaker for pre-concert talks with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also conducts a lecture series on topics open to listeners.
Steinberg is the creator of AudioMaps, an approach to music listening intended for beginners. His books AudioMaps To The Beethoven Symphonies, vol. 1 and 2 were published in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Education
Steinberg received a Ph.D. in Music from Harvard University, an M.M. from the New England Conservatory, and a B.A. from UCLA.
Performances
* Hear Now Festival of New Music Selection—2023, 2022, 2017, 2014
* Avaloch Farm Residency—2017
* Sacred Transitions: A Song Cycle on Meditations by Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, commissioned by the Harold M. Schulweis Institute, premiere May 2014 Encino
* String Quartet No. 2, commissioned by the Southern California Chamber Conference, premiere May 2014 for Hear Now Festival of Los Angeles Composers, Venice CA
* Cello Tropes for solo cello, commissioned by the Jewish Center for Culture and Creativity, toured throughout Wisconsin with cellist Yoriko Morita, November 2013
* Stories From My Favorite Planet, commissioned by the Daniel Pearl Foundation, Songs for Peace Concerts, Congregation Or Ami, for Daniel Pearl Music Days, 2011, 2012, 2013
* Gold Medal for Excellence, Jury’s Choice, Park City Film Music Festival 2008
Awards
* ASCAP Composers Award, 1998
* June-In-Buffalo Festival, ASCAP Bernstein Fund, 1997
* Aspen Fellowship, Advanced Composition Program, 1995
* Aspen Fellowship, Advanced Composition Program, 1993
* Aspen Fellowship, Advanced Composition Program, 1992
* MacDowell Fellowship, 1991
* ASCAP Film Composers Seminar, 1990
* First Prize, New World String Quartet Competition at Harvard University, 1987

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu