Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, music educator, conductor, pianist, author, and humanitarian. One of the most important cultural personalities of 20th century America, Bernstein influenced many generations of musicians. He is also credited with mentoring famous conductors like John Mauceri, Herbert Blomstedt, Alexander Frey, Marin Alsop, and Edo de Waart among many others.
John Williams is an American composer, pianist, trombonist, and conductor. Widely considered the greatest film composer ever, John Williams has played a significant role in the American film industry by composing music for films, such as the Jurassic Park films, Star Wars saga, the Indiana Jones films, and Schindler's List. He has also influenced several other composers like Marcus Paus.
![James Horner James Horner](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/james-horner.jpg)
![Jerry Goldsmith Jerry Goldsmith](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jerry-goldsmith-1.jpg)
![Marvin Hamlisch Marvin Hamlisch](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/marvin-hamlisch-1.jpg)
![Bernard Herrmann Bernard Herrmann](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bernard-herrmann-9097-1.jpg)
![Tommy Dorsey Tommy Dorsey](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/tommy-dorsey-46831-1.jpg)
![Brian Tyler Brian Tyler](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/brian-tyler-1.jpg)
![Yehudi Menuhin Yehudi Menuhin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/yehudi-menuhin-8536-1.jpg)
Grammy Award-winning legendary 20th-century violinist Yehudi Menuhin was born to Lithuanian Jews in the US. Starting his training in the violin at age 4, he later studied music in Paris. He also experimented with fusion, collaborating with jazz and Indian classical musicians. He later launched the Yehudi Menuhin School.
![Marin Alsop Marin Alsop](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/marin-alsop-1.jpg)
![Art Blakey Art Blakey](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/art-blakey-50771-1.jpg)
![Joshua Bell Joshua Bell](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joshua-bell-46173-1.jpg)
![Bill Conti Bill Conti](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bill-conti.jpg)
![Alan Silvestri Alan Silvestri](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alan-silvestri-1.jpg)
![Mitch Miller Mitch Miller](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mitch-miller-53812-1.jpg)
![Erich Wolfgang Korngold Erich Wolfgang Korngold](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/erich-wolfgang-korngold-17657-1.jpg)
![William Grant Still William Grant Still](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/william-grant-still-31473-1.jpg)
![John Debney John Debney](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-debney-20488-1.jpg)
![Lorin Maazel Lorin Maazel](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lorin-maazel-55242-1.jpg)
![Terence Blanchard Terence Blanchard](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/terence-blanchard-106225-1.jpg)
![Lalo Schifrin Lalo Schifrin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lalo-schifrin-45795-1.jpg)
Lalo Schifrin is an Argentine-American composer, pianist, conductor, and arranger. A multiple time Academy Award nominee and five-time Grammy Award winner, Schifrin is renowned for his TV and film scores since the 1950s. Best known for his compositions like the Mission: Impossible theme and collaborations with stars like Clint Eastwood, Lalo Schifrin was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2019.
![Michael Tilson Thomas Michael Tilson Thomas](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/michael-tilson-thomas-1.jpg)
Victor Borge was a Danish-American pianist, conductor, and comedian. He is best remembered for blending comedy and music for which he achieved popularity across Europe and the United States. Recipient of several prestigious awards, Borge received badges of chivalric orders from countries like Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In 1999, he received the Kennedy Center Honors.
![John Adams John Adams](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-coolidge-adams.jpg)
![Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/zubin-mehta-1.jpg)
![James Levine James Levine](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/james-levine-1.jpg)
![Miklós Rózsa Miklós Rózsa](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mikls-rzsa-1.jpg)
Born in Hungary, Miklós Rózsa was a music prodigy and learned to play the violin at age 5. After studying music in Germany, he pursued his music career in France, the UK, and the US. He is remembered for his Academy Award-winning scores in movies such as Ben-Hur and Spellbound.
![George Szell George Szell](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/george-szell-25874-1.jpg)
Considered one of the best conductors of the 20th century, Hungarian-born George Szell is best remembered for his stint as the director of the Cleveland Orchestra in the US. Starting as a pianist, he had started touring at age 11. He began conducting at age 16, with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
![Angela Morley Angela Morley](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/angela-morley-1.jpg)
![Pierre Monteux Pierre Monteux](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/pierre-monteux-1.jpg)
![Arthur Fiedler Arthur Fiedler](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/arthur-fiedler-54962-1.jpg)
![Murray Perahia Murray Perahia](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/murray-perahia-1.jpg)
![James Reese Europe James Reese Europe](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/james-reese-europe-1.jpg)
![Antonia Brico Antonia Brico](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/antonia-brico-53903-1.jpg)
Born to an unwed mother in the Netherlands, Antonia Brico later moved to the US with her foster parents. She was the first American to graduate from the master class of conducting at the Berlin State Academy of Music. She was also the first woman to gain respect as a symphony orchestra conductor.
![Skitch Henderson Skitch Henderson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/skitch-henderson-1.jpg)
![Eugene Ormandy Eugene Ormandy](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/eugene-ormandy-17405-1.jpg)
Born in Hungary, Eugene Ormandy was inspired by his amateur violinist father to take up violin lessons as a child. By age 17, he was himself a professor of violin. After moving to the US, he would initially compose for silent films. He later received 2 Grammy Awards and was also knighted.
![Victor Herbert Victor Herbert](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/victor-herbert-54936-1.jpg)
![Leon Fleisher Leon Fleisher](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/leon-fleisher-33487-1.jpg)
![Robert Shaw Robert Shaw](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/robert-shaw-33477-1.jpg)
![Sir Charles Mackerras Sir Charles Mackerras](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sir-charles-mackerras-1.jpg)
![Gershon Kingsley Gershon Kingsley](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/gershon-kingsley.jpg)
![Don Ellis Don Ellis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/don-ellis.jpg)
![Nicolas Slonimsky Nicolas Slonimsky](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/nicolas-slonimsky-1.jpg)
![Alan Gilbert Alan Gilbert](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alan-gilbert-1.jpg)