Leonard Birdseed



Leonard Birdseed is a character played by Jerry Nelson as heard on the album Elmo and the Orchestra. On the album, he is the conducter of the all-bird member Birdapest Symphony Orchestra (spoofing the Budapest Symphony Orchestra), and helps Elmo try to remember his favorite piece of classical music.

The name is a play on American conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein who, during the 1960s, led dozens of concerts with the New York Philharmonic that were broadcast on television as the "Young People's Concerts" (several episodes of which are available on DVD). His Sesame Street namesake continues the tradition of educating young people in classical music on this album.

It is of note that Jerry Nelson does an uncanny Bernstein impression.