Eugene Jelesnik photograph collection, 1950-1959

Eugene Jelesnik (1914-1999) was born in Alexandrovsk, Ukraine on March 19, 1914, to Jacob and Jenny Jelesnik, a Jewish Ukranian family. Jenny and Eugene immigrated to the United States in 1925 after Jacob’s death; they lived in New York before settling in Utah. In Utah, Eugene met Virginia Bell Washburn; the two married in 1938. After Virginia’s death, Eugene Jelesnik married Carleen Hall Brown in 1994.

A violinist, composer, and conductor, Jelesnik studied with the New York Philharmonic after his immigration to the United States. In Utah, he founded the Salt Lake Philharmonic Orchestra, which he served as conductor of. In addition to his work with the orchestra, Jelesnik was host of the weekly television show Talent Showcase for Utah's KSL for 34 years, and served as a broker who arranged numerous musicians and performers to give shows in Utah. Jelesnik also gave shows to the United States military worldwide, including two tours in Vietnam. For his work with the military, Jelesnik received the Silver Medal Citation, Bronze Medal in Vietnam and the Civilian Service Award Ribbon from the War Department for his service in Italy during World War II. Jelesnik received numerous other awards for his work in the arts, including: the 1981 George Washington Medal of Honor; the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Music and Arts Award; and the 1983 Presidential Citation from Brigham Young University. Eugene Jelesnik died on February 16, 1999.