Thomas Scherman Explained

Thomas Kielty Scherman (February 12, 1917 – May 14, 1979) was an American conductor and the founder of the Little Orchestra Society.

Biography

He was a son of Bernardine (née Kielty) and Harry Scherman, founder and president of the Book of the Month Club. His father was Jewish and his mother was of Irish and Welsh descent.^[1] His sister is Katharine Scherman Rosin (married to Axel Rosin). He attended Columbia University and then studied piano with Isabelle Vengerova and conducting with Carl Bamberger and Otto Klemperer.^[2] He served in the U.S. Army (1939–1941), reaching the rank of captain.^[2]

Notes and References

1. News: It's Good to Remember . The New York Times. September 20, 1964. Bernardine Kielty. of half‐Irish, half-Welsh descent and very much the individualist plunged into social work for underprivileged Jewish children although in her small town environment she had hardly known a Jew. Gradually, she became a part of a young New York intellectual group and married one of its members an earnest writer named Harry Scherman. They had two children and lived happily ever after..
2. Web site: The New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts . Thomas Scherman papers . archives.nypl.org . 2022-08-22.