Kurt Frederick (musician)

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Kurt Frederick, born Kurt Fuchsgelb (4 March 1907 - 28 December 1997), was an Austrian-born musician who later became a conductor in New Mexico, United States.

Kurt Frederick was born in Vienna, Austria to Ernestine (née Dohan) and Guido Fuchsgelb.^[1] His father worked for the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (IKG).^[2]

Frederick studied at the State Academy of Music in Vienna, now known as the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.^[3] He worked as the choir conductor at the Stadttempel, also known as the Seitenstettengasse Temple.^[4] Frederick married Gladys Caroline Miller after his escape in 1939. While in New York, Frederick worked as a violist first with the New Friends of Music Orchestra and then with the Kolisch Quartet.^[5][6] He and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1940s. Frederick was a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico.^[7] His mother, Ernestine Fuchsgelb, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944.^[8] Frederick fled Vienna after the Anschluss and moved to New York City through the rescue efforts of Gladys Kissel Miller Rokos and her daughter,

Gladys Caroline Miller.^[9]

Frederick married Gladys Caroline Miller after his escape in 1939. While in New York, Frederick worked as a violist first with the New Friends of Music Orchestra and then with the Kolisch Quartet.^[5][6] He and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1940s. Frederick was a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico.^[7]

His mother, Ernestine Fuchsgelb, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944.^[8] Frederick gave the world premiere for Ernst Krenek's Fifth Symphony.^[10] He also gave the world premiere for Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw with the Albuquerque Civic Symphony on November 4, 1948. Frederick obtained the world premiere of A Survivor from Warsaw through an arrangement made with Schoenberg in which Frederick agreed to produce copied parts of the score and send them back to Schoenberg.^[11] He also played a part in the creation of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and served as its first conductor.^[12] Frederick received his PhD in Philosophy of Music from the Eastman School of Music in 1957.

Frederick gave the world premiere for Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw with the Albuquerque Civic Symphony on November 4, 1948. Frederick obtained the world premiere of A Survivor from Warsaw through an arrangement made with Schoenberg in which Frederick agreed to produce copied parts of the score and send them back to Schoenberg.^{[11][13][14][15][16]}

Abstract - This interview features Kurt Frederick, a European refugee and conductor of the Albuquerque Civic Symphony Orchestra. Frederick talks about hearing Arnold Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw and then corresponding with the composer in order to perform the work in New Mexico. Furthermore, this interview discusses his introduction to the piece, his correspondences with Schoenberg, the premiere of the work, and also background information on Frederick’s life.^[17]

Kurt Frederick reflects on his life in relation to Arnold Schonberg’s music and his career as conductor of the Albuquerque Civic Symphony Orchestra.^[18]

Frederick fled Vienna after the Anschluss and moved to New York City through the rescue efforts of Gladys Kissel Miller Rokos and her daughter, Gladys Caroline Miller.^[9] Frederick married Gladys Caroline Miller after his escape in 1939. While in New York, Frederick worked as a violist first with the New Friends of Music Orchestra and then with the Kolisch Quartet.^[5][6] He and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1940s. Frederick was a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico.^[7] His mother, Ernestine Fuchsgelb, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944.^[8]

The orchestra, originally called the Albuquerque Civic Symphony, was organized by local members of the Rotary Club and first performed on November 30, 1932, at Carlisle Gymnasium. The founding conductor was Grace Thompson Edmister, who was one of the first women to lead a classical orchestra in the United States.

Edminster was succeeded in 1941 by William Kunkel, who was in turn replaced in 1945 by Kurt Frederick. Frederick managed to convince the world-renowned Austrian-American composer Arnold Schoenberg to commission the premiere of his work "A Survivor from Warsaw“ to the ACS.^[19]

Since 1974, the artistic and cultural contributions of 325 individuals have been recognized with the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

The Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts - Dr. Kurt Frederick was a recipient for music in 1977.^[20]

The Opera Southwest was founded in 1972 as Albuquerque Opera Theatre by Dr. Edward T. Peter, Maestro Kurt Frederick and others.^[21]

Kurt Frederick was a conductor in the following orchestras:

• New Mexico Chamber Orchestra
• Civic Symphony Orchestra, which became the Albuquerque Civic Symphony Orchestra
• Youth Symphony Orchestra
• University of New Mexico Orchestra

Kurt Frederick was a full-time professor of music, and conductor at the University of New Mexico for 42 years.

In 1979, Kurt Frederick received an honorary degree from UNM.^[22]

Located on the University of New Mexico Campus, College of Fine Arts, the University of New Mexico dedicated one of the main concert halls after Kurt Frederick, rightfully named 'Kurt Frederick Hall' located at (B120).^[23]

An endowed scholarship was established in memory of Kurt Frederick providing assistance to main campus undergraduate students each year.^[24]

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