Jeffrey Lerner

Jeffrey Charles Lerner, age 89, of Houston, Texas passed from this life into the arms of his heavenly Father on February 22, 2017. Born in the Bronx, New York on January 15, 1928, Jeffrey was the son of Anne Kaliner Lerner and Morris "Murray" Lerner. He attended Tallowood Baptist Church and is survived by his loving wife of 23 years Susan Barnes Lerner; his children Steven Lerner (Nancy), Seth Lerner (Karen), Arlis Brodie (John), and Nathan Lerner; grandchildren David Lerner (Jessica), Cathy Lerner (fiancé Bryan Sistano), Meredith Lerner, Michael Brodie, Morgan Lerner, Nicole Brodie, and Jordan Brodie; and sister Joan Alef of Eugene, Oregon. After graduating in January 1944 from Evander Childs High School at age 16, he studied science and music at City College of New York and Brooklyn College. During this period of WW II, he performed weekly war bond concerts in Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestral Association Orchestra. Upon turning 18, he enlisted in the United States Army, during which time he began studying with renowned clarinetist Daniel Bonade. He would later also study saxophone with acclaimed pedagogue Joseph Allard. After completing three years of military service, he was awarded a full scholarship to The Juilliard School, where he earned baccalaureate and master's degrees in music. Upon completing his studies in 1952, he was appointed second clarinet of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. In 1955, he was appointed principal clarinet of the HSO by Maestro Leopold Stokowski and also began teaching at the University of Houston. The following year, he resigned from the HSO to accept a professorship in clarinet and saxophone at UH, an appointment he would hold until retiring in 2009. He holds the title Professor Emeritus in the Moores School of Music at UH. He returned to the HSO as a member in 1959, holding full-time appointments with both HSO and UH until 1967. Having played first clarinet with the famed Goldman Band in New York for several summer seasons, he also performed as principal clarinet with Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Texas Opera Theatre, and many other symphony, opera and show orchestras in Houston. An ardent champion of chamber music, he was a founding member of the Woodwinds of Houston and Winds of Texas. Until the time of his death he continued his work as one of Houston's leading contractors of musicians, which over the years included many premiere local performance organizations and national touring productions presented in Houston's most prestigious venues. Having performed extensively in seven decades and worked in such a wide and diverse array of musical settings, he ranks among the most active and impactful music professionals ever in the city of Houston and the state of Texas. A longtime member of the International Clarinet Association, he was featured multiple times at European and American conferences of this, the largest professional society of clarinetists in the world. His musical legacy continues in the multitude of students he taught and other musicians he mentored. Memorial gifts may be made to University of Houston-Moores School of Music, P.O. Box 867, Houston, Texas 77001-0867; Please designate "Jeffrey Lerner Scholarship Fund."

Jeffrey Lerner

January 15, 1928 - February 22, 2017