Collection: Seletsky, Harold

Harold Seletsky (1927-2010) clarinetist, composer and bandleader of The West End Klezmorim. He composed music for films, commercials, opera, ballet, and has written jazz and Yiddish songs. His award winning scores for commercials include those for Eastern Airlines, Air France, Chevrolet and U.S. Steel. As an instrumentalist, Harold performed with the Houston Symphony as well as numerous music ensembles in New York City.

Seletsky, a clarinetist and composer and a Local 802 member since 1945, died on Dec. 28, 2010. Mr. Seletsky attended the High School of Performing Arts and later studied theory and composition with Josef Schmid, a prize pupil of Alban Berg. He went on to compose music for films, commercials, opera and ballet, and has written jazz and Yiddish songs

Mr. Seletsky’s award-winning scores for commercials include those for Eastern Airlines, Air France, Chevrolet and U.S. Steel. As an instrumentalist, he was a member of the Houston Symphony under Leopold Stokowski, appeared on stage in the Broadway production of “Rags” and was the leader of the West End Klezmorim. He took great pride in his composition studio, which included some of the most accomplished jazz musicians in the city. Mr. Seletsky is survived by his daughter Susan and daughter Robin, who is also a clarinetist.