Leopold Stokowski was a renowned British conductor, famous for his dynamic leadership of the Philadelphia Orchestra and his innovative, baton-free conducting style. Active throughout much of the 20th century, he directed major orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony, NBC Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and Houston Symphony, and founded several important ensembles such as the American Symphony Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra. Stokowski was a passionate advocate for contemporary music, premiering numerous new works during his six-decade career. He also gained popular recognition by conducting and appearing in films like Disney's Fantasia. Stokowski’s career, marked by bold artistic choices and a unique orchestral sound, left a lasting impact on classical music.