George Templeton Strong

George Templeton Strong (May 26, 1856 – June 27, 1948) was an American composer of classical music and a professional painter. His work has been described as Romantic. He moved to Vevey, Switzerland, in 1897 and lived there and in Geneva for the remainder of his life. Although his career was in Europe, he is considered an American composer. Early life and education George Templeton Strong was born in New York City to Ellen (Ruggles) and George Templeton Strong, an attorney. The family was musical; both parents were amateur musicians and his father, an amateur organist, was on the board of the New York Philharmonic Society. His father was active in the community and helped found the United States Sanitary Commission during the American Civil War. Since the 1930s, the senior Strong has been notable for the literary quality of his voluminous diary, which he kept most of his life. With early musical promise, the son was given lessons and training, studying the piano, violin and oboe. He occasionally played as an oboist and English horn player with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. While the senior Strong hoped his son would follow him in the law, they became reconciled before the father's death.