Schneider, Alexander (1908-1993), was a famous Russian-born violinist, conductor, and educator whose career was closely associated with chamber music. He performed with the Budapest Quartet from 1932 to 1944 and again from 1955 until it disbanded in 1967. In addition, Schneider founded several chamber groups, such as the Albeneri Trio, the Brandenburg Ensemble, and the Schneider Quartet. He also served as a guest conductor with major orchestras.
Schneider taught on the faculty of several prominent music schools, and he founded the New York String Music Seminar to assist in training young musicians. Schneider also was an important concert promoter and a supporter of modern music. He premiered the works of such modern composers as Milton Babbitt of the United States, Pierre Boulez of France, and Igor Stravinsky of Russia.
Abraham Alexander Schneider was born on Oct. 21, 1908, in Vilnius, now in Lithuania. He entered a musical conservatory in Vilnius when he was 10 years old and began studying music in Frankfurt, Germany, at the age of 16. Schneider led the Frankfurt Museum Orchestra from 1925 to 1932. He settled in the United States in 1938 and later became a U.S. citizen. Schneider helped found several music festivals, notably the Casals Festivals in Puerto Rico and Prades, France, and the Israel Festival. He also was involved with the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont for several years. Schneider died on Feb. 2, 1993.
