Oregon Symphony Conductor Bio

Norman Leyden

Laureate Associate Conductor

Norman Leyden was given the lifetime title of laureate associate conductor by the Oregon Symphony following his retirement in 2004 after 34 seasons as music director of the orchestra’s Pops series and 29 years as its associate conductor.

A graduate of Yale and Columbia universities, Leyden served in World War II with Maj. Glenn Miller’s legendary Air Force Band, and afterward he arranged for many prominent artists, including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett.

In 1970 Leyden initiated the Oregon Symphony’s Pops series, for many years one of the most successful programs of its kind in the United States. He also served for 18 years as music director of the Seattle Symphony Pops.