"A Leroy Anderson Centennial Celebration"
Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 2:00pmDuring the years that Jelani Eddington has given concerts, he has easily established himself as one of the most prominent and sought-after artists on the concert circuit. Jelani has performed in most of the major concert venues throughout the United States, has toured extensively abroad, and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including his selection as the 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year.
Jelani Eddington was born in 1974 in Muncie, Indiana to Louise Eddington and the late Robert Eddington and grew up in a very musical family. Between the interests of his mother, a professional music teacher of many years, and those of his grandmother, Florence Arnold, a well-respected piano instructor, it was no surprise when Jelani demonstrated an inclination toward music at a very early age.
Shortly after beginning piano instruction at the age of four, Jelani began studying classical piano under the direction of his grandmother. At the age of eight, a trip to hear the 4-manual 42-rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ installed in the Indianapolis, Indiana restaurant, the Paramount Music Palace, introduced Jelani to the sounds of the theatre pipe organ. Soon thereafter, he began to pursue classical organ lessons and ultimately began studying theatre organ under the direction of John Ferguson, whose skills as a theatre organ instructor have been highly acclaimed internationally.
In the spring of 1988 at the age of 13, Jelani won the American Theatre Organ Society’s Young Theatre Organist Competition, prevailing over competitors ages 13-21 from the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand. Jelani remains the youngest competitor ever to win this title. Jelani went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University in 1996, and later received a Juris Doctor degree from the Yale Law School in 1999, after which time he was admitted to practice law in New York State.
During the course of his concert career, Jelani has been featured at numerous national and regional conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society, and has toured extensively throughout the world, including numerous concert appearances in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, Holland, France, and Germany. Jelani has also distinguished himself as a recording artist and has produced numerous theatre organ albums on some of the best-known and most dynamic instruments in the country.
In August 2001, the American Theatre Organ Society honored Jelani’s extensive career as a concert and recording organist by naming him the 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year. Having received the award at the age of 27, Jelani retains the distinction of being the youngest-ever recipient of this prestigious honor.
The Legacy of Leroy Anderson
American Composer of Light Concert Music
The music of Leroy Anderson is firmly entrenched in American popular culture and is enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world. His music continues to be extensively recorded and performed by a wide range of musicians. Among them are symphony orchestras, concert and marching bands, classical and jazz ensembles, vocalists of many styles, virtuosi of almost every instrument as well as music students of all ages.
Anderson's music is frequently used to entertain visiting dignitaries at the White House as well as to greet U.S. Presidents when visiting foreign countries. Its use by radio and television as background music for commercials and theme music for many programs ensures Anderson's music remains familiar with each new generation. More than 50 years after Anderson wrote many of his compositions, in the words of John Williams, composer and laureate conductor of the Boston Pops - "Anderson's music remains as young and fresh as the very day on which it was composed."
Almost 30 years after Leroy Anderson's death, his music has taken on a timeless quality. "It's hard to imagine that someone actually wrote Sleigh Ride," remarked one listener. "It's as though it came from the ether. Sleigh Ride is one of those pieces of music that seems as though it has always been around; just another wonderful part of everyday life." It is safe to say that somewhere in the world someone is either performing or listening to Leroy Anderson's music every moment of every day.
Anderson sensed during his later years that the music he wrote had achieved an identity and a popularity that surpassed his own fame as the composer. At the time he was probably right. In recent years however, the awareness of Leroy Anderson has increased dramatically. This is due in part to new recordings of his music, re-releases of Anderson's original recordings on compact disc, numerous concerts of his works, a PBS video about him broadcast to millions each year since 1999, and a book about the composer.