Paranov, Moshe (real name, Morris Perlmutter)

Paranov, Moshe (real name, Morris Perlmutter), American pianist, conductor, and music educator; b. Hartford, Conn., Oct. 28, 1895; d. West Hartford, Conn., Oct. 7, 1994. He began his musical studies as a child and sang in synagogues. At 14, he commenced piano playing in theaters and hotels. He was 17 when he made his formal debut as a pianist in Hartford. He pursued training in piano with Julius Hartt and Harold Bauer, and in composition with Ernest Bloch and Rubin Goldmark. After making his N.Y. recital debut as a pianist at Aeolian Hall in 1920, he made appearances as a soloist with orchs. and as a recitalist. With Hartt and others, he founded a music school in Hartford in 1920 as Julius Hartt, Moshe Paranov, and Associated Teachers, which soon became the Hartt School of Music. In 1934 Paranov became its director and proceeded to develop it into one of the finest schools of its kind. After it became a part of the Univ. of Hartford in 1957, he continued to preside over the school until 1971. He also served as music director of WTIC Radio in Hartford (1938–49), and as conductor of the Hartt Opera Theater, the Hartford Sym. Orch. (1947–53), and the Brockton (Mass.) Sym. Orch. (1954–64). His 95^th birthday was marked by a special celebration at the Univ. of Hartford on May 16,1991, at which occasion he conducted a sprightly rendition of Offenbach’s overture to Orpheus in the Underworld. An endowed chair was also created in his honor to further his efforts in promoting music education.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire