In Memoriam - Julian Leviton

Julian Leviton, 89, resident of Albuquerque, died peacefully in his home Tuesday morning. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Leviton of Albuquerque, her husband, Kenneth Hodder and their son, Sam. He also has a son, Lawrence who lives in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Originally, from Chicago, Mr. Leviton spent his life devoted to music and teaching. As a young man, Mr. Leviton won several prestigious contests as a pianist in the Chicago area, including the Society of Young American Musicians Competition. He served in the army in World War Two and was called upon, with only a few days notice, to play the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. His performance won rave reviews from Chicago music critics. Mr. Leviton toured Europe as a two-piano team with his first wife, Annabelle Shrago Leviton and they returned to the Chicago area to devote their lives to teaching and performing. For many years, Mr. Leviton taught at De Paul University, where he received the designation Professor Emeritus of Music. Mr. Leviton was one of the pioneers in bringing the Suzuki Piano method to the United States in the 1960s.Performing groups from an institute he co-directed appeared on numerous television shows and performed for several Popes on tours of the Vatican. He has had homes in Hawaii and Bellingham, Washington but, most notably, leaves behind a devoted studio of piano students of all ages that he taught for most of the past twenty years in Scottsdale, Arizona. Later in life, he enjoyed traveling and performing with his second wife, pianist Peggy Leviton. Remarkably, with many physical infirmities, he continued commuting to Scottsdale to teach until just a few months ago, capping off a distinguished 60 year teaching career. Mr. Leviton was loved by family and friends from around the world and will be greatly missed. Funeral Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 20008 at the Fairview Memorial Park at 700 Yale Blvd. SE in Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Phoenix Music Teachers Association at: http://www.phoenixmusicteachers.org/index.html
 

Copyright (c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal, NM, March 6, 2008