Steve Lebetkin is an American composer and musical descendant of the late Jewish composer Karol Rathaus, a leading early 20th century film and classical composer that emigrated to America during the Third Reich.
Rathaus, a student of Franz Schreker, was a major influence on the three major American composers with whom Lebetkin studied – Gabriel Fontrier, Sol Berkowitz, and Leo Kraft. He also studied composition with Hugo Weisgal.
Completed works are Variations For Orchestra, Cycle of the Earth (ballet for symphony orchestra on the earth’s environmental life cycle), Symphonic Songs – Six Songs On Poems By Walt Whitman, Piano Concerto (The “Classical”), Concerto for Soprano Saxophone, Vibraphone and String Orchestra, Elegy For Double (or divided) String Orchestra, Piano Sonata, Libera Me – Fanfare for Freedom for Symphony Orchestra, Piano Sonata, Symphony for Band, and Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.
Lebetkin’s Violin Concerto, a broad and expansive work similar in scope to the Barber concerto had its very successful world premiere on October 7, 2017 at Carnegie Hall, Momo Wong as soloist. Amy Andersson conducted Orchestra Moderne – NYC.
Lebetkin’s Piano Concerto had its premiere in 2018 with the Falcon Symphony (Coro, Venezuela) under the baton of Ruben Capriles. Other works include his Six Preludes and Fugues for Solo Piano, a version for concert band, Bagatelles for Solo Piano, and art songs. Libera Me – Fanfare for Freedom for orchestra, has had multiple performances through the country. Three Sunsets for an a capella choir was premiered by the Hillsdale Chamber Choir.
Other recent works include Fallen Angels Choral Symphony, in honor of those we lost due to senseless gun violence. Its premiere took place in April, 2024 at Florida State University, Tallahassee.
Works in progress include Cello Concerto, Symphony Number 4, and Spoon River, an opera/oratorio.