His life followed the traditional path of the classical musician, marked by rigorous training and conservatory studies in violin and composition, before he decided to pursue a riskier, more entrepreneurial approach to music. He became a creative disruptor, co-founding (Le) Poisson Rouge (LPR), a boundary-breaking venue in New York, NY that has opened doors for his fellow performers and connected audiences with unheard music. As a composer, Handler has collaborated with leading classical performers and popular artists alike, and has received premieres and commissions from Central Park’s Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, BAM and Lincoln Center.