1. the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired
goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior.
2. the condition of being motivated.
3. the act of motivating; providing incentive
* The following names represent only a partial listing of available speakers.
Jim Abbott
Jim Abbott has battled the odds his entire life. Despite being born with only one hand he was the 15th player to ever make a professional debut in the Major Leagues. Many considered the move a publicity stunt by manager Doug Rader, but after struggling early, Abbott proved his doubters wrong by winning 12 games with a 3.92 ERA in his rookie season. On the mound, Abbott wore a right-hander's fielder's glove at the end of his right arm.
Tony Alessandra
A marketing strategist and applied behavioral scientist, Dr. Tony Alessandra is a leading authority on bottom-line marketing tactics and on building business relationships for life. Recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as "one of America's most electrifying speakers," Tony combines an endearing charisma and a command of his craft into a unique style that consistently captivates his audiences.
Jason Alexander as Donny Clay
Donny Clay Will Show You - The Way! Donny Clay (as performed by award-winning and internationally known actor, Jason Alexander) is one of the most sought after and highly regarded motivational speakers in the world today. Donny Clay will turn your event into the most powerful tool for enlightenment and change. Or he won't. Either way, you'll be laughing so hard, you won't notice. This unique comedy show is presented as a motivational inspirational seminar.
Coach Paul Assaiante
Unless your sport is Squash, you’ve probably never heard of Paul Assaiante. Yet, he is the winningest coach in the history of college sports. As the head coach of the Trinity College Squash Team, over the past fifteen years he has been quietly building a legacy of teamwork, leadership and success that is unparalleled. Because of his dedication Trinity now holds the record for the longest winning streak of any college team, in any sport in history.
Robert Ballard
Among the most accomplished and well known of the world’s deep-sea explorers, Dr. Robert Ballard is best known for his historic discovery of the R.M.S. TITANIC lost in its watery grave more than 12,000 feet beneath the cold water of the North Atlantic.
During his long career, he has conducted more than 100 deep-sea expeditions using the latest in exploration technology. Following his discovery of the Titanic, he went to find other lost legends in the sea including the German Battleship Bismarck, the aircraft carrier Yorktown lost during the Battle of Midway, and President Kennedy’s PT-109.
Norm Bossio
Norm Bossio is an independent management consultant, trainer, and public speaker who provides technical assistance and training in a wide variety of management areas throughout the private and public sectors. Prior to founding Norm Bossio Enterprises, he was a teacher, principal, and superintendent in public schools. He also served for eight years as an adjunct faculty member and consultant to the Management Certificate Program at Stonehill College.
Les Brown
Les Brown is an internationally recognized speaker and CEO of Les Brown Enterprises, Inc., he is also the author of the highly acclaimed and successful books, Live Your Dreams, and newly released book, It's Not Over Until You Win. Les is the former host of The Les Brown Show, a nationally syndicated daily television talk show which focused on solutions rather than problems.
Scott Burrows
Scott used his powerful success formula - Vision, Mindset and Grit during his entire life to maximize untapped potential, excel and surpass the competition. He played college football at FSU under Coach Bobby Bowden. He was a # 1 ranked kick-boxer having his last fight broadcast by ESPN. At the age of 19, Scott's life took a dramatic turn - he was a passenger in a single car accident which left him paralyzed from the chest down. Diagnosed a quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair, Scott would not be sidelined.
Joe Calloway
Joe Calloway is a branding consultant, business author, and restaurant owner whose client list reads like a “Who’s Who” in business. From Saks Fifth Avenue and BMW to American Express and IBM, a wide range of companies depend on Joe for insight into today’s marketplace.
Joe is the best-selling author of Becoming A Category Of One which received rave reviews from The New York Times. His new book is Indispensable: How To Become The Company Your Customers Can’t Live Without.
Christine Cashen
Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride. Christine Cashen delivers a fast –paced, hilarious program with useful content that makes her a sought after speaker worldwide. For more than 10 years, she has jazzed an amazing variety of audiences throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Christine is an authority on sparking innovative ideas to handle conflict, reduce stress and energize employees.
Duane Cashin
When you experience Duane Cashin, you enter an exciting environment that motivates you to exceed your highest goals. In that heightened atmosphere, Duane shows you how to break away from old, ineffective behaviors that block peak performance as he inspires you to adopt a fresh, new perspective that fosters increased confidence, clarity of purpose, and a renewed commitment to your personal and professional success.
John Cassis
John Cassis is the founder and president of the Cassis Group, a firm specializing in business motivation and teambuilding. Since 1980, John has challenged more than 1 million people to face modern day demands with sensitivity and humor. John focuses on the needs of each client, customizing his motivational messages to each group he addresses.
Rick Cerrone
For 11 of the most successful and tumultuousseasons in New York Yankees’ history, Rick manned what SI called, "The Hottest Seat in Sports." As the team's Senior Director of Media Relations from 1996 -2006, he worked side-by-side with some of the biggest names in sports & entertainment. He counseled perhaps the most powerful and controversial owner in the history of sports, George M. Steinbrenner; worked closely with manager, Joe Torre; and guided the most-recognizable players for the sports industry's most-valuable franchise in the nation's number-one media market.
Dan Clark
In 1982, Dan Clark was sponsored by Zig Ziglar into the National Speakers Association and soon received NSA's highest earned designation, CSP-Certified Speaking Professional. Since then, Dan has spoken to over 2.5 million people in all 50 states, throughout Canada and in 15 other countries in Europe, Asia and the former Soviet Union.
Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school andcollege and twenty jobs by the time she turned twenty-three. It was hernext job, however, that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, when she borrowed $1,000 from her boyfriend and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City. Over the next twenty-five years, she’d parlay that $1,000 loan into a five-billion-dollar real estate business.
Jim Craig
Jim Craig has been called the backbone of a team that accomplished one of the most extraordinary and memorable sports victories of all time. He went on to play professionally and transitioned to tremendous and ongoing success in the business world. Jim is in demand from coast to coast and internationally as a motivational speaker, spokesperson, marketing and sales strategist, and master storyteller. He is president of Gold Medal Strategies.
Roger Crawford
Roger Crawford inspires, empowers and entertains audiences throughout the world. Many have even called him an energizer, because of his ability to activate and invigorate those who hear him. Having been challenged at birth with a physical disability, Roger has experienced firsthand the incredible power of resilience. He is certified as a tennis professional by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association and became the first severely handicapped athlete to compete in a NCAA Division I college sport.
Pat Croce
Pat Croce graced the cover of Success magazine as the first person to ascend from the training room to the boardroom of a professional sports team. His remarkable success as a physical therapist and pioneer in the sports medicine field to the colorful leader responsible for the resurrection of the Philadelphia 76ers as a NBA championship contender has been defined as one of the most amazing stories in sports history.
Mack Dryden
In addition to being an electrifying motivational speaker and hilarious Emcee, Mack Dryden is a comedian/actor/writer who has appeared on numerous television shows, several feature films and whose writing and voice are heard on more than 500 radio stations every week.
Linda Edgecombe
Linda Edgecombe is an internationally renowned award-winning humorous speaker, trainer and consultant. She is a best selling author who energizes every room as she leads people to loosen up, lighten the load and laugh. Her audiences are motivated and shown how they can shift their perspectives on life, work and themselves. Change has never been this painless!
Dr. Kevin Elko
Dr. Kevin Elko is a nationally renowned Performance Consultant, Professional Motivational speaker and Author. With hundreds of standing ovations, Dr. Elko is one of the hottest inspirational presenters in the country today. Kevin's appeal in the sports world translates directly to the corporate arena. Dr. Elko has consulted with and presented to a number of companies including: Travelers Insurance Company, Smith Kline Beecham Consumer Brands, Abbot Diagnostics, Prudential Securities.
Linda Ellerbee
Linda Ellerbee is an outspoken journalist, award-winning television producer, best-selling author, one of the most sought-after speakers in America, a breast cancer survivor and a mom. Ellerbee began at CBS, then moved to NBC News, where, after covering politics, she cultivated a diverse following in the '80's with the pioneering late-night news program NBC News Overnight, which she wrote and anchored. Overnight was cited by the Columbia duPont Award it received as "the best written and most intelligent news program ever."
Mike Eruzione
Mike Eruzione served as the captain that led the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team to its Gold Medal victory at Lake Placid. The highlight of the games for Mike was his winning goal against the Soviet Union in the games that stunned the world. For the past several years, Mike has traveled throughout the United States for major corporation and organizations as a motivational speaker and spokesperson. He is the Director of Development for Athletics and Assistant Head Coach at Boston University.
Susan Ershler
Susan’s record would be remarkable enough if it only detailed her business achievements. During her 23-year corporate career, she has held a series of increasingly responsible executive positions in the sales divisions of Fortune 500 companies. She led teams to sales records, beating quotas from $1 million to $600 million. Ending as a vice president of sales for a multi-national telecommunications corporation, she was responsible for their fast-growing Internet division.
Clyde Fessler
Clyde Fessler, retired Vice President of Business Development for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, was with the company for 24 years, and has played an integral part in their dramatic turnaround. Fessler joined Harley-Davidson in 1977 as the Advertising and Promotions Manager, and soon was promoted to Director of Marketing Services. In that position he lead the establishment of Harley Owners Group, which now has over 500,000 members and is the largest enthusiast club in the world.
Tom Flick
Following his successes as an NFL quarterback, Rose Bowl Champion, Pac-10 Conference “Player of the Year”; Tom Flick now applies his winning ways as a dynamic and highly sought-after speaker to companies that include Microsoft, Marriott, Starbucks, Merrill Lynch, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Shell Oil, Boeing, NAPA Auto Parts, Safeco Insurance and the US Army Rangers. Tom draws on his exceptional ability to communicate clear business solutions with humor, wit and razor-sharp insight.
John Foley
To be a pilot with the elite Blue Angels, John Foley had to increase his performance by 300%. He became one of the top pilots in the world, applying principles that would become the basis for his unique performance framework. John went on to attend the Stanford Graduate School of Business and to work in venture capital in Silicon Valley. Using his experience with the Blue Angels as a model, he developed methods and tools for achieving high levels of success.
Steve Ford
Steve has enjoyed a successful acting career for over 20 years appearing in over 800 hours of film and television productions. He has worked on over 30 films and many guest leads in television. Most recently you would have seen Steve appearing in the hit movie Transformers, and Black Hawk Down. Steve’s other film credits would include films such as Contact with Jodie Foster, Armageddon with Bruce Willis, Starship Troopers, Eraser with Schwarzenegger, Heat with Al Pacino, Carrie II, Young Doctors in Love, and When Harry Met Sally as Meg Ryan’s boyfriend.
Yossi Ghinsberg
Author of "Heart of the Amazon", Yossi Ghinsberg is one of the most exciting speakers you are likely to encounter anywhere today. Yossi's message is universal and inspirational - his manner soothing and reassuring, his style unassuming yet absorbing and most importantly, his messages can be taken further.
Steve Gilliland
Since the turn of the century, Steve Gilliland is one of the most sought-after and top rated speakers in the country. Steve’s motto is: “If you take care of people, the business will follow.” Implementing this principle, he has helped people grow their business and expand their life by teaching them to rethink their work, their relationships, and themselves.
Sam Glenn
Who is Sam Glenn? Sam is creatively known as the “Chalk-Man.” At 6’7”, Sam graduated from Xavier University on a basketball scholarship. After graduation, he ran a business in a multi-million dollar industry, but saw it instantly vanish before his eyes in a fire. Riddled with depression, he spiraled until he was sleeping on borrowed floors and working as a nighttime janitor. Eventually, a few small words took hold of him and motivated him to change his life, making him the huge success he is today.
Warren Greshes
Warren Greshes grew up in Brooklyn, NY. He began his business career in Manhattan's highly competitive Garment District where he was National Sales Manager for a multi-million dollar apparel manufacturer. He then joined a New York City consulting firm, where he tripled sales in just two years.
Susan Hansen
Sue Hansen is a national speaker, trainer and consultant, specializing in helping people become better people-it’s her mission and her passion. With an undergraduate degree in Psychology, post graduate work in business, certification as a behavioral analyst, a growth curve specialist and her many years experience in business ownership Sue’s clients have access to a broad and fresh perspective on issues facing the workforce and its’ leaders.
Jeff Havens
With the invention of the award-winning Uncrapify Your Life! series of keynote speeches, Jeff Havens has turned the entire professional speaking world on its head. By encouraging his audiences to do the opposite of everything he recommends, Jeff offers a motivational address utterly unlike anything corporate America has ever seen, one that is guaranteed to leave the members of your group refreshed,
surprised, and begging for more.
Keith Harrell
Keith Harrell personally has experienced success and failure in the game of life. While growing up in Seattle, Washington, he aspired to become a professional athlete. Keith learned about the importance of a positive attitude, improving performance, teamwork and the art of competition on and off the court. Today, he maintains that same winning edge in life because of one important journey - the desire to be his best!
Brian Holloway
Hired by 258 Fortune 500 Companies from around the world - Brian Holloway has set himself apart in delivering high performance value for the hard charging corporate competitors. Featured on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, USA Today, 700 Club, TBN - Brian is recognized for his elite status as a America’s #1 TEAM BUILDING expert. His client list includes Wal-Mart, Albertsons, Honeywell, MBNA, Bank of America, Apple, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, Cisco Systems, State Farm.
Shep Hyken
Shep Hyken, CSP, CPAE is a speaker and best-selling author who works with companies and organizations who want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. His articles have been read in hundreds of publications, and he is the author of Moments of Magic, The Loyal Customer and the Wall Street Journal best-seller, The Cult of the Customer. He is also the creator of The Customer Focus program which helps clients develop a customer service culture and loyalty mindset
Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner captivated the world when he broke the world record by scoring 8,634 points in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal and earned the title, "World's Greatest Athlete." "I love life and I want to LIVE it! Activity, variety and the next challenge around the bend -- and our new baby girls, Kendall and Kylie - keep me excited and inspired. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dewitt Jones
Dewitt Jones is unparalleled in showing people how to bring their creative vision into reality. He is one of America's top professional photographers, a creative genius in his field. He's led an inspired life, celebrating "what is right with the world." Embracing this attitude has taken him to soaring heights in both business and life.
Tommy Lasorda
Regarded by many as baseball's most popular ambassador, Tommy
Lasorda led the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team to a Gold Medal in Australia. He will
begin his 51st season in the Dodger organization and fifth as Vice President. He
was named Vice President on July 29, 1996 after retiring as manager, a position
he held for the previous 20 seasons. Lasorda assumed all player personnel
responsibilities when he was named the Dodgers' interim General Manager on June
22, 1998.
Glenn Llopis
Glenn Llopis, known as “the opportunity expert” is the prototype of the new entrepreneur whose success lies in steadfast character, passion for life and an ability to marry social responsibility with ground-breaking products and services. He combines a celebrated UCLA education with fast-tracked years at the Gallo Wine Company and Sunkist where he became the youngest senior manager in the company’s 100+ year history.
Harvey Mackay
Harvey Mackay is author of five New York Times bestsellers. His first two books -- Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and Beware The Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt -- have been translated into 35 languages and distributed in 80 countries. Both books were New York Times #1 bestsellers and are also listed by the Times among the top 15 inspirational business books of all time.
Jim MacLaren
Appearances can be deceiving. Jim MacLaren is living proof. Confined to a high-tech wheelchair, his left leg missing below the knee, MacLaren at first glance might seem vulnerable. His condition is the result of two devastating accidents, eight years apart, which reduced him from a collegiate football star and aspiring actor to an amputee and then a quadriplegic. Yet this man, one who doctors predicted would never move below the neck, has nurtured such remarkable inner strength that has and continues to inspire millions. That's Jim MacLaren's reality.
Michael McKinley
Michael is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) earned from the National Speakers Association, and demonstrates his commitment to the speaking profession through proven speaking experience. In 1992, Mike was named to the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame. Five speakers are named annually to honor those National Speakers Association members who have reached the highest levels of the speaking profession.
Frank Miles
What do you call a comedy juggler, a standup comedian, a comedy magician, and a composer of humorous songs who uses his act to teach people that they can overcome their deepest fears and accomplish anything they really want to? Most people just call him funny.Frank Miles delivers a riotously funny and totally unique show that's also a motivational workshop filled with powerful tools for handling fear. The show bounces from insightful standup comedy, to a slapstick turn juggling fire on a giant unicycle.
W Mitchell
It's Not What Happens To You - It's What You Do About It, is the title of W Mitchell's latest book, and it's the message this expert on responsibility, change and renewal shares with audiences around the world. He has served in the Marines and worked as a Gripman on the San Francisco cable cars; the former mayor of Crested Butte, Colorado, congressional nominee and radio and pubic television personality, has been described as a renaissance man. In 1975 Mitchell co-founded and chaired Vermont Castings, Inc., which put thousands of people to work.
Jim Morris
Jim Morris’ Cinderella story is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. Originally a top prospect, Jim’s dream of becoming a major league player was derailed by serious arm injuries before he got out of the lower minors. Instead, Jim got married, raised a family of three, and got his college degree before becoming a high school science teacher and baseball coach in West Texas. His baseball career was reduced to playing in beer leagues and throwing batting practice to his high school baseball team.
Wes Moss
Wes was born with a heart for entrepreneurship, beginning several successful business ventures in both high school and college. By his second year at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wes was running a franchised painting business with more than 20 employees and finished as the top producer in the state of North Carolina. After graduating with an Economics degree from Chapel Hill, he moved to Atlanta, where he became a Vice President at one of the world’s largest investment firms in just five short years.
John Naber
At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, he captured four Gold Medals, one Silver, and broke four World Records. His World marks in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke lasted an amazing seven years after his retirement. During his athletic career he won 25 National AAU titles, and won a record 10 NCAA individual titles (in 12 swims), while leading his team to four undefeated seasons, and in 1977, he won the 1977 James E. Sullivan Award as our Nation's Outstanding Amateur Athlete.
Diana Nyad
In 1979, Diana Nyad plunged into the history books by completing the longest swim in history. The distance was 102.5 miles from the coast of Bimini to the Florida shore. This incredible world record, the longest swim by a man or a woman without the aid of a cage, still stands today. Diana was front page news throughout the Western world, the lead story for Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News, and many times guest of the Tonight Show.
Vince Papale
Philadelphia through and through, Vince Papale is a true local hero. His story - that you should never give up and always continue to pursue your dreams - embodies the spirit of Philadelphia and serves to empower anyone who has ever been told they can’t achieve their goals. In 2006, Disney released a movie about Vince called "Invincible" that opened to rave reviews finishing #1 at the box office two weeks in a row! It features Mark Wahlberg as Vince; and Greg Kinnear as former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil.
Neal Petersen
Neal speaks to audiences all over the globe about realizing goals and turning challenges into advantages. His expertise is unique and is based on his own real life experiences. Neal is among millions of people born with disadvantages. His were physical, financial and political. Neal is no stranger to adversity. He has faced and overcome hurdles most of us cannot imagine. He was born crippled with only one hip joint, and black in a working class family during South Africa’s racist era.
Connie Podesta
Connie obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Speech/Drama and Education at Northern Illinois University, her Master's Degree in Human Relations at Eastern Connecticut University and her certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor from the State of Louisiana.
Vince Poscente
The key elements in corporate culture today require a balance of mental toughness, a passion for excellence, and a dedication to an enjoyable journey. An authority on speed and focus, Vince Poscente knows the mind set needed to meet those demands. During the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, Vince raced to a Canadian national record of 135 miles per hour (216.7 km/h) on skis. Even more astonishing, at the age of 25, Vince had never ski raced before.
Aron Ralston
Mountain climber and author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Pinned in a 3-foot wide slot canyon near the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park south of Moab, Utah, Aron Ralston cut through his own arm below the elbow to escape, applying a tourniquet and administering first aid before rigging anchors and fixing a rope to rappel to the bottom of Blue John Canyon and hiking out to meet rescuers.
Rudy Ruettiger
Against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, Daniel "RUDY" Ruettiger in twenty seven seconds, carved his name into history books as perhaps the most famous graduate of the University of Notre Dame. In 1993, TRISTAR Productions immortalized his life story with the blockbuster film, RUDY. Written and produced by Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh, the award-winning team who brought us HOOSIERS, the critically acclaimed RUDY received "Two Thumbs Up" from Siskel and Ebert.
Mark Sanborn
A member of the prestigious Speakers Roundtable and recipient of the exclusive CPAE Award from the National Speakers Association, Mark is author of two books - Sanborn on Success and Teambuilt: Making Teamwork Work - and co-author of five other books. He is also a prolific audio and video author. His video program "Teambuilding: How to Motivate and Manage People" was the second-best selling video in America.
Randy Snow
At the peak of a blossoming tennis career while just a junior in high school, Randy Snow was injured in a farming accident, which left him without the use of his legs. The transition of accepting his situation and competing has been a key to his success. Since then he has become a business owner and nationally recognized sales associate, a Fortune 500 speaker, published author, and one of the most successful gold medal wheelchair athletes in history.
Jim Tunney
Certified Speaking Professional CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame. Drawing from 28 years experience as an educator and 31 years as an NFL referee, Jim Tunney is the celebrity speaker for team building, leadership, peak performance, motivation, customer service and wellness.
Peter Vidmar
Peter Vidmar became the premier male gymnast for the United States at the 1984 Olympics. As USA team captain, he led his teammates to their stunning gold medal victory over the Peoples Republic of China. Peter went on to win the Silver Medal in the all-around competition, making him the only American male ever to do so. And with a perfect score of 10, he also captured the Gold Medal on the pommel horse. A member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame, Peter is the highest scoring US male gymnast in Olympic history.
Erik Wahl
Erik Wahl’s success as a speaker and unique understanding of vision traces back to his training as an artist. He holds a Bachelors degree from the University of San Diego where he studied both art and business. After first working in the business world and playing with his art, he now plays in the business world by working with his art. He has founded The Wahl Group, a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations identify and implement breakthrough thinking to achieve extraordinary results.
Rob Waldman
Rob ‘Waldo’ Waldman "The Wingman" delivers the message of maximizing performance in competitive environments. He teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while relaying his personal experiences as a combat decorated fighter pilot and businessman. He makes a striking parallel that is memorable and exciting and brings fighter-pilot energy and passion into each story and illustration.
Pat Williams
Pat Williams was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, earned his bachelors degree at Wake Forest University, and his master's degree at Indiana University. He has a doctorate in Humane Letters from Flagler University and is currently working on a doctorate in sports administration from Walden University. He is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame after catching for the Deacons baseball team, including the 1962 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship team.
Garrison Wynn
If you could have no-fluff motivation, high-energy humor, and industry specific customized business content in a single program, what value would that have for your organization? By blending his funny real life stories and current original business research, Garrison Wynn educates, motivates and entertains - delivering solutions audiences can use right away. Each program contains powerful information on communications, change and success that can be customized for salespeople, management teams, customer service representatives or those in leadership positions.
Desi Williamson
You'll look like a star when you bring in Desi to speak for your next training or convention. His fast-paced programs - customized for your organization both inspire your people to take action, and give them the tools to do so. Your people get a fun, energetic program with content, and your organization gets an immediate increase in productivity from your people. Desi brings results to your organization!
Benjamin Zander
Benjamin Zander has been the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic since its formation twenty years ago. Mr. Zander, who was born and educated in England, began to compose at the age of nine. He studied with England's leading composer, Benjamin Britten, and his close associate Imogen Holst, daughter of Gustav Holst. At fifteen, Zander was invited to Florence to study with the great Spanish cello virtuoso Gaspar Cassado. For the next five years he traveled throughout Europe performing as a chamber musician.
