George Spyros Manos

George Manos of Naples, Florida and native Washingtonian, DC died Monday, October 28, 2013 at the age of 85. He is survived by his sisters Mrs. Bes Zourdus and Mrs. Helen Santrizos both of Bethesda, Maryland.

Mr. Manos served as the music Director of Washington's National Gallery and Conductor of the Gallery Concert Orchestra for more than 18 years. In his tenure, he presided over 600 National Gallery traditional Sunday Evening Concerts and Recitals, continuing the Gallery's famed Sunday Evening Free Concert Series. He personally conducted The National Gallery Symphony Orchestra in nearly 100 Concert performances during his tenure. Many of these Gallery Concerts and Recitals were heard on a regular basis nationally over National Public Radio.

Prior to his National Gallery appointment, Mr. Manos had already compiled a long and distinguished musical career as a Conductor and Concert Pianist. Following studies at The Julliard School of Music and graduation from the Peabody Conservatory, Mr. Manos embarked on a musical career which included a tour of duty in The Marine Band as Concert Pianist. Sgt. Manos was dubbed "The White House Pianist" by President Harry Truman, for whom Sgt. Manos performed throughout President Truman's Second Term of Office. Following this, Mr. Manos became founder and conductor of The Washington Oratorio Society; solo pianist under Howard Mitchell for The National Symphony Orchestra. He also conducted and performed as piano soloist at Constitution Hall in Washington on numerous occasions.

Internationally, Mr. Manos was the founder/director of the ten year Killarney Bach Festival in Ireland. He was musical conductor of the National Ballet Company's tour of Mexico, and was Guest Conductor of the Brazilian State Orchestras in Brasilia and Sao Paulo. He directed the Summer Scandinavian Music Festival in Kolding Denmark. In Academia, Mr. Manos served as Director of The Wilmington School of Music, as well as Associate Professor of Music at The Catholic University of America.

Family and friends are invited to attend graveside services at Glenwood Cemetery, 2219 Lincoln Rd NE Washington, DC at 11 AM, Saturday, November 2nd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, MD, 410-234-4500, www.peabody.jhu/conservatory/.