In May 2017, the Leonard Bernstein Office announced “Leonard Bernstein at 100,” a two-year global celebration of the artist’s life and career, featuring more than 2,500 events on six continents. This summer, events accelerated as Bernstein’s actual 100th birthday, August 25, drew near. The composer and conductor had a close relationship with the Tanglewood Festival throughout his career. For its celebration, Tanglewood augmented the Boston Symphony Orchestra, members of Local 9-535 (Boston, MA), with players from numerous orchestras around the world with which Bernstein had maintained close associations. It also held a Bernstein gala concert in June.

In Europe, Bernstein was the most performed composer at the BBC Proms. Among the highlights, Marin Alsop conducted Symphony No. 2: Age of Anxiety with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, members of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD), and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in August. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra also visited Edinburgh International Festival to perform Bernstein works.

Ravinia and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, members of Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL), marked the occasion with a full production of MASS and a concert featuring Symphony No. 1 Jeremiah. At the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, The New York Philharmonic gave concerts celebrating Bernstein’s contributions to Broadway. Wolf Trap’s grand celebration of Bernstein included performances by George Takei, Misty Copeland, and Local 802 (New York City) member Paquito D’Rivera.