Leonard Stein Papers, 1942-1983 (MSS 219)

Leonard Stein was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 1, 1916. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he received his bachelor's degree in 1939 and his master of music in 1941. He was Arnold Schoenberg's teaching assistant while at UCLA. Stein later received his D.M.A. from the University of Southern California in 1965.

He taught at Occidental College (1946-1948), Los Angeles City College (1948-1960), Pomona College (1961-1962), University of California, Los Angeles (1962-1964), Claremont Graduate School (1963-1967), University of California, San Diego (1966), California State College at Dominguez Hills (1967-1970) and the California Institute of the Arts (1970-1975). In 1975, Stein was appointed adjunct professor in the School of Music at the University of Southern California.

On April 13, 1964, the Pasadena Art Museum and the Coleman Chamber Music Association, under the musical direction of Stein, co-sponsored the first "Encounters" event which was held at the Pasadena Art Museum Auditorium. At the time, the new series of musical events was conceived as:

"a meeting, face to face, of the outstanding composers and performers of today with those who seek to gain insight into original and difficult works in contemporary idiom. To encourage rapport between composer and listener, the setting will be informal, the composer will speak, and programming will allow for the replaying of some works."

The Pasadena Music Teachers' Association became a continuing co-sponsor by the third event. In November of 1971, the Institute Committee on Programs of the California Institute of Technology became a sponsor of the program and "Encounters" performances were staged on that campus.