Leonard Slatkin, a fixture of the U.S. symphonic scene, is especially noted for his performances of American, Russian, and British music, and for his numerous recordings of symphonic cycles. He was born into a famous musical family, and in 1968 he became assistant conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, eventually being promoted to music director in 1979 and overseeing international tours and many recordings. His other significant posts include the National Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre National de Lyon. He has amassed well over 100 albums, been nominated for more than 50 Grammy awards, and has won six times. Slatkin was a U.S. National Medal of the Arts recipient in 2003. He is the author of the book Conducting Business. ~ Rovi Staff