Leigh Gerdine was born on June 22,1917 in Sheyenne, North Dakota.
13 Facts About Leigh Gerdine
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Leigh Gerdine began playing the piano around age 8 and later played the saxophone in high school.
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Leigh Gerdine attended Lincoln College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, from which he received a bachelor's degree in music in 1940.
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Leigh Gerdine was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, and the Blue Key honor societies.
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Leigh Gerdine subsequently studied piano in London with Louis Kentner for 2 years.
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Leigh Gerdine enlisted as an aviation cadet but subsequently went into the intelligence service.
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Leigh Gerdine served as aide to General John K Cannon and was decorated with the French Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star Medal and German Occupation Medal.
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Leigh Gerdine began his teaching career as an associate professor of music at Mississippi State College for Women.
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In 1948, Leigh Gerdine joined the faculty of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
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Leigh Gerdine joined Washington University in St Louis as head of the music department in 1950.
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Leigh Gerdine oversaw a large increase in the student population at Webster in his tenure.
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In 1976, Leigh Gerdine co-founded the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
13.
On March 1,2002, Leigh Gerdine died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 84.