Schuyler Chapin
Encyclopedia
Schuyler Garrison Chapin (February 13, 1923 – March 7, 2009) was an Assistant General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera
and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City
during the administration of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He famously noted of his work, that:
He was the son of Lindley Hoffman Paul Chapin (1888–1938) and Leila Howard [Burden] (1899–1967).
to the Metropolitan Opera. He attended the Millbrook School
in 1940, where he was very active in the performing and musical arts, however, he did not graduate from high school, nor college, but was the recipient of numerous university honorarium. He became a pilot during World War II
.
By 1953, he had become Jascha Heifetz
's tour manager. Around this time, he also befriended Leonard Bernstein
, several of whose live recordings, including the Grammy award-winning Beethoven's Birthday (1970), Chapin produced.
In 1963, he was named vice-president of Lincoln Center and co-founded the Film Society of Lincoln Center
in 1969. In 1972, he accepted the position of General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera
after the previous GM, Göran Gentele
, died in a car accident before the opening of his first season. Chapin stayed on at the Met for four years, subsequently becoming Dean of Columbia University
's Graduate School of the Arts, a position he held for 11 years, later being kept on as Dean emeritus.
In 2002, he was awarded France
's Légion d'honneur
, 82 years after his father; L. H. Paul Chapin, a WWI liaison officer between General Pershing and Marshall Foch, received the same honour.
He wrote several books, including Leonard Bernstein: Notes From a Friend.
He was also a Board Member Emeritus In Memoriam at The Center for Arts Education
.
. Chapin met and married second, divorcee Catia Zoullas Mortimer in 1995. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani officiated the marriage at Gracie Mansion
, New York City.
Schuyler Garrison Chapin is a ninth generation descendant of [Capt.] Philip Pietersen Schuyler, (1628–1683), who settled in New Netherland (or Amsterdam), abt. 1650, with bros. David Pietersen Schuyler; a lesser known, but equally poised branch of the family. Chapin's maternal pedigree extends to include: [Priv.] Isaac Kingsland (1710–1803); Third Battalion, of the New Jersey Continental Line, who married 3 Jun. 1741 Joanna [Schuyler]; Chapin's sixth great grandparents removed. Their granddaughter Catherine Schuyler [Kingsland] married [Capt.] Oliver Garrison; Chapin's fourth great grandparents removed; parents of [Commodore] Cornelius Kingsland Garrison; whose granddaughter Cornelia Garrison [Van Auken] married Lindley Hoffman Chapin; paternal grandparents of Schuyler G. Chapin.
Through the Schuyler and Van Rensselaer families of New York and New Jersey, Schuyler G. Chapin is the third cousin sixth removed of Elizabeth "Betsy" [Schuyler]; wife of First U. S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton
; daughter of [Maj. Gen.] Philip John Schuyler, Jr., who was one of four major generals named by Congress in 1775, and third cousin fifth removed of Chapin. Major General Schuyler served instrumentally in the Burgoyne Campaign (1777). http://etc.usf.edu/maps/pages/3800/3892/3892.htm
His paternal side descends in the ninth generation from early English Puritan Deacon Samuel Chapin who arrived in America, from Devon
shire, between 1633–1635, and was later one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts
.
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the administration of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He famously noted of his work, that:
"There is nothing simple in the world of the arts" (New York Times, 1995).
He was the son of Lindley Hoffman Paul Chapin (1888–1938) and Leila Howard [Burden] (1899–1967).
Life in the Arts & Humanities
While still a teenager, in the 1930s, he began accompanying millionaire widow and former actress Eleanor BelmontEleanor Robson Belmont
Eleanor Robson Belmont was an English actress and prominent public figure in the United States. George Bernard Shaw wrote Major Barbara for her, but contractual problems prevented her from playing the role. Mrs...
to the Metropolitan Opera. He attended the Millbrook School
Millbrook School
Millbrook School is a private, coeducational preparatory school located in Duchess County, New York, USA. It is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, and is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the Board of Regents of the State University of New York...
in 1940, where he was very active in the performing and musical arts, however, he did not graduate from high school, nor college, but was the recipient of numerous university honorarium. He became a pilot during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
By 1953, he had become Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
's tour manager. Around this time, he also befriended Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, several of whose live recordings, including the Grammy award-winning Beethoven's Birthday (1970), Chapin produced.
In 1963, he was named vice-president of Lincoln Center and co-founded the Film Society of Lincoln Center
Film Society of Lincoln Center
The Film Society of Lincoln Center based in New York City, United States, is one of the world's most prominent film presentation organizations. Founded in 1969 by three Lincoln Center executives - William F. May, Martin E. Segal and Schuyler G...
in 1969. In 1972, he accepted the position of General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
after the previous GM, Göran Gentele
Göran Gentele
Göran Gentele was a Swedish actor, director, and opera manager.Born in Stockholm, Gentele studied from 1944 until 1946 at the Dramatens elevskola, beginning a brief career as a film actor not long afterwards...
, died in a car accident before the opening of his first season. Chapin stayed on at the Met for four years, subsequently becoming Dean of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's Graduate School of the Arts, a position he held for 11 years, later being kept on as Dean emeritus.
In 2002, he was awarded France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, 82 years after his father; L. H. Paul Chapin, a WWI liaison officer between General Pershing and Marshall Foch, received the same honour.
He wrote several books, including Leonard Bernstein: Notes From a Friend.
He was also a Board Member Emeritus In Memoriam at The Center for Arts Education
The center for arts education
The Center for Arts Education is a nonprofit organization that is committed to stimulating and sustaining quality arts education as an essential part of every child’s education in the New York City public schools. Since 1996, CAE has invested nearly $40 million to support schools and cultural...
.
Lineage
Schuyler G. Chapin's first wife Elizabeth [Steinway], whom he married 15 May 1947, died in 1993; daughter of Theodore E. and Ruth [Davis] Steinway. They had four sons: Henry Burden, Theodore Steinway, Samuel Garrison, and Miles ChapinMiles Chapin
Miles Chapin is an American actor.Chapin was born in New York City, New York, the son of Betty , a descendant of Henry E. Steinway , and Schuyler Chapin, an author who was the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera...
. Chapin met and married second, divorcee Catia Zoullas Mortimer in 1995. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani officiated the marriage at Gracie Mansion
Gracie Mansion
thumb|250px|Western sideGracie Mansion is the official residence of the mayor of the City of New York. Built in 1799, it is located in Carl Schurz Park, at East End Avenue and Eighty-eighth Street in Manhattan...
, New York City.
Schuyler Garrison Chapin is a ninth generation descendant of [Capt.] Philip Pietersen Schuyler, (1628–1683), who settled in New Netherland (or Amsterdam), abt. 1650, with bros. David Pietersen Schuyler; a lesser known, but equally poised branch of the family. Chapin's maternal pedigree extends to include: [Priv.] Isaac Kingsland (1710–1803); Third Battalion, of the New Jersey Continental Line, who married 3 Jun. 1741 Joanna [Schuyler]; Chapin's sixth great grandparents removed. Their granddaughter Catherine Schuyler [Kingsland] married [Capt.] Oliver Garrison; Chapin's fourth great grandparents removed; parents of [Commodore] Cornelius Kingsland Garrison; whose granddaughter Cornelia Garrison [Van Auken] married Lindley Hoffman Chapin; paternal grandparents of Schuyler G. Chapin.
Through the Schuyler and Van Rensselaer families of New York and New Jersey, Schuyler G. Chapin is the third cousin sixth removed of Elizabeth "Betsy" [Schuyler]; wife of First U. S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
; daughter of [Maj. Gen.] Philip John Schuyler, Jr., who was one of four major generals named by Congress in 1775, and third cousin fifth removed of Chapin. Major General Schuyler served instrumentally in the Burgoyne Campaign (1777). http://etc.usf.edu/maps/pages/3800/3892/3892.htm
His paternal side descends in the ninth generation from early English Puritan Deacon Samuel Chapin who arrived in America, from Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire, between 1633–1635, and was later one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
.