User:Qst/Jens Nygaard

Jens Nygaard (October 26, 1931 in Stephens, Arkansas — September 24, 2001 in Manhattan, New York City) was an American pianist and conductor. Nygaard was the maverick founder and director of the Jupiter Symphony. Nygaard moved to New York after living most of his early life on a farm in Arkansas. Tributes and speeches following his death were made by from Time (magazine) and his sister, Susan Keith, who spoke positively of her acquaintance with him. Still at an early age, Nygaard developed the ability to play several orchestral musical instruments, despite receiving most of his education via self-teaching.

Background
Nygaard was born into a family of multi-cultural backgrounds. His mother was Scottish and his father was Danish. His mother gave him piano lessons from an early age and his father had previously played the clarinet in vaudeville acts, which may have influenced Nygaard on his musical career. . Nygaard moved on study the clarinet, piccolo and cello. In 1948, Nygaard enrolled in the Louisiana State University on a clarinet-scholarship, where, by this time, he could play most orchestral instruments. In the 1950s, Nygaard was enrolled in the Juilliard School as a piano student, but, after a failed attempt to secure a place in the conducting program, Nygaard began organizing events and concerts outside of school, although eventually graduating the school in piano. During much of this time and other spans in his early career, Nygaard was homeless and was forced to sleep on park benches or at his friends unhated apartment in Harlem.

Nygaard noted himself that writings of Sir Donald Francis Tovey had influenced his work, as well as the mentorship provided by Dimitri Mitropoulos after meeting Mitropoulos backstage of the Carnegie Hall, where the New York Philharmonic regularly performed their concerts. By 1970, Nygaard resided in Vienna as a teacher, conductor and pianist for the Beethoven Bicentennial Celebration, but was known for raising thousands of dollars to save the birthplace of George Gershwin. Nygaard presented centennial celebrations of Fritz Kreisler, Ernest Bloch, and Georges Enesco.

Career
In addition to founding the Jupiter Sympnhony, Nygaard founded the Westchester Chamber Chorus and Orchestra, directed concerts of the Washington Heights YW-YMHA for twenty-five years and taught conducting at the Columbia University Teachers College and the Rutgers University.