| Timeline |
| 1918 |
Born 25 August in Lawrence, Massachusetts |
| 1935 |
Studies at Harvard University with composer Walter Piston |
| 1939 |
Continues studies at Curtis Institute in Philadelphia |
| 1943 |
Conducting debut with New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra |
| 1944 |
Jeremiah wins New York Music Critics' Award |
| 1949 |
Conducts Boston Symphony Orchestra in world premiere of Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony |
| 1953 |
First American to conduct at La Scala, Milan |
| 1957 |
New York opening of musical West Side Story |
| 1969 |
"Laureate Conductor for Life" of New York Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 1971 |
Composes Mass for opening of the John F.Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. |
| 1990 |
Dies 14 October in New York |
