Concert Honors Plainview Composer

Longtime Plainview resident Avraham Sternklar, acclaimed composer, pianist and musical instructor, was honored yesterday by a tribute concert at Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library.

For Sternklar's 80th birthday, his colleagues at the Long Island Composers Alliance (LICA) organized the event entitled "An Homage to Avraham Sternklar."

The Massapequa-based organization was established in 1972 by two local composers. LICA has since hosted hundreds of concerts across New York featuring all Long Island performers. Sternklar joined LICA in 1973 shortly after their initiation.

"Avraham was one of our earliest members," said LICA co-founder and Hofstra University Professor Herbert Deutsch. "He has had a remarkable career."

Sternklar, an award winning artist, is originally from Israel, but came here to study at the Juilliard School of Music. As an educator, Sternklar has taught many musicians who have later earned successful careers in the industry.

"A number of students of his have gone on to become professional musicians, he's always had a very big influence," Deutsch said. "He is a remarkable teacher of both piano and composition."

"He has also had a terrific performance career as a pianist," Deutsch added. 

Yesterday's  concert consisted of all original pieces by Sternklar and Leonard Lehrman. Sternklar will be joined by composers Helene Williams, Herbert Feldman, Anne Yarrow, Leonard Lehrman, Marilyn London and Herbert Rothgarber.

Co-sponsors of the commemorative event include the Friends of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library and the Professor Edgar H. Lehrman Memorial Foundation for Ethics, Religion, Science & the Arts.