Sue Knussen

Sue Knussen, an award-winning producer of music programs for British television and former education director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has died in London at age 53.

Mrs. Knussen died Sunday in London of a fungal blood infection.

" For a whole generation of us, Sue was one of the most inspiring people behind the scenes making things happen, " said Simon Rattle, music director of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Mrs. Knussen joined BBC Television in 1988 as a producer and director. She won the British equivalent of an Emmy award, the BAFTA, as producer of best arts series in 1996 for " Leaving Home, " a series of seven hour-long TV programs that aired on England ' s Channel 4.

One of her most widely acclaimed works, a documentary titled " The Art of Conducting: Great Conductors of the Past, " was so popular it was picked up for broadcast in the United States on PBS. Mrs. Knussen also produced numerous festivals and concerts in London.

She joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1996. Along with Fairfax High School teacher Alan Warhaftig, she created the Music for Educators program, which brought teachers together with eminent musicians, including Philharmonic music director Esa-Pekka Salonen and composer John Adams.

Mrs. Knussen included schoolchildren, the general public and the music community at large in her Los Angeles Philharmonic education activities, which ranged from preconcert talks to seminars and symposiums.

She is survived by her husband, British composer and conductor Oliver Knussen; a daughter, Sonya; her mother and brother.