A director of Peabody Conservatory and long-time president of the Juilliard School of Music, the very busy Mennin found time to compose a number of major works in the post-World War II American music scene, up until his untimely death at age 60. His Cello Concerto was commissioned by the Juilliard Music Foundation in 1955, one of many commissions from prestigious organizations. Enjoy a YouTube performance from Albany Records' American Archives, as performed by Janos Starker and the Louisville Orchestra (Jorge Mester, cond.).