Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Leonard J. Lehrman turned 76 on Aug. 20, celebrating during a rainy rehearsal break at Court Street Music in Valley Stream with members of the cast, staff, chorus and families of his opera “Sima.”
On Sept. 10, Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay will host a signing for his autobiography “Continuator,” featuring musical performances by Lehrman, his wife Helene Williams, and Samantha Long.
Lehrman, a Valley Stream composer, has devoted his life to music, Jewish heritage, Russian cultural traditions and social activism. Inspired by parents concerned with global injustices, particularly the threat of nuclear weapons, he began composing at the age of seven and decided on a career in music by 11. That same year, a meeting with composer Elie Siegmeister led to a lifelong mentorship. Lehrman later performed in more than 100 concerts of Siegmeister’s works and wrote his biography.
Jewish themes and Russian influences are central to his compositions, most notably in “Sima,” completed 49 years ago and based on David Yakovlevich Iseman’s novel about a Jewish girl orphaned by a pogrom in early 20th-century Russia. The title, meaning “treasure” in Aramaic, also honored his grandmother, whose name was Sima. Though technically demanding, the opera is moving toward a New York premiere.
Since 1970, Lehrman has completed unfinished works by other composers, including Marc Blitzstein’s “Sacco and Vanzetti,” which earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination. His autobiography “Continuator” chronicles these projects and his many other contributions to music and culture.
Collaboration with Williams has been a cornerstone of his career. Together, they have created more than 200 works and performed in over 700 concerts, sustaining his creative energy into his seventies.
With his 76th birthday recently celebrated and a book-signing event on the horizon, Lehrman continues to share his music, heritage and cultural legacy with audiences.
