Wassili Leps

Wassili Leps (May 12, 1870 – December 22, 1942) 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 (and then took over some of Stokowski's engagements as conductor of the Cincinnati Orchestra's summer seasons). 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.