MUSIC DIRECTOR NORMAN HUYNH
American conductor Norman Huynh continues to build a reputation as one of classical music’s most adventurous ambassadors. Hailed for the exuberance with which he leads orchestras across Europe, Asia, and North America, Huynh’s ability to attract new audiences to the orchestra has received equal renown. Appointed Music Director of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra in 2020, his six-year appointment as Associate Conductor for the Oregon Symphony culminated on June 15, 2022 where he lead the orchestra in performance with Ben Folds.
Norman maintains an active guest conducting schedule, with recent and upcoming engagements including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfónica del Vallés (Spain) and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra of Thailand. In addition, Norman has worked with both the New York Philharmonic and for John Williams of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as a cover conductor.
As a music director, Norman’s sharp focus on winning over new audiences reflects his own entry point to classical music—namely as a 12-year-old “band geek” trombonist in Alabama. The first in his family to pursue orchestral music as a career, the euphonium player turned maestro continues to find ways to create these same entry points for others, whether through community driven initiatives or bold concert programming. Norman has found success through programming with unique crossover collaborations and has received growing acclaim for his work leading live film soundtracks.
Norman has gained recognition through programming with unique crossover collaborations, taking bows throughout his career with artists like Smokey Robinson, Wyclef Jean, Boyz II Men, Gregory Alan Isakov, and many others in the R&B, hip-hop, and pop genres. Additionally, Huynh has received growing acclaim for his work leading live film soundtracks, ranging from Spielberg classics, An American in Paris, and special performances of the Harry Potter films in Barcelona and Madrid.
While still a student at Peabody, he co-founded the Occasional Symphony, built to celebrate holidays in modern settings, with examples including Dr. Seuss’ birthday at a children’s museum and Halloween in a half-restored church. His track record and commitment to community engagement would extend to existing legacy organizations. As the Assistant Conductor of the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra, Norman not only visited 60 public schools in helming its Musical Explorer’s Program, but also founded “Symphony and Spirits”, a routinely sold-out concert series for under-40 audiences. His accomplishments would earn him the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award, awarded “in recognition of innovative approaches to music education.” More importantly, both the Occasional Symphony and the programs he began at the PSO continue to thrive to this day.
Huynh has attained international prominence in the first years of his career, receiving a coveted invitation to one of the orchestra field’s most prestigious events, the Bruno Walter Young Conductor Preview, hosted by the League of American Orchestras. He was also selected as one of twenty-four finalists from over 600 applicants for the 2021 Malko Conducting Competition.
Selected for private mentorship by the late maestro Kurt Masur as a Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Scholarship recipient, Norman is also an alumnus of both the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival Conducting Academy, where he studied with Robert Spano. Other teachers who have made a profound impact are Gustav Meier, Marin Alsop, Markand Thakar, Demondrae Thurman, John Ratledge, and Adrian Gnam. A proud first generation Asian-American, Norman resides in Bozeman, Montana, where he enjoys stargazing, skiing, and riding his motorcycle.
Norman maintains an active guest conducting schedule, with recent and upcoming engagements including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfónica del Vallés (Spain) and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra of Thailand. In addition, Norman has worked with both the New York Philharmonic and for John Williams of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as a cover conductor.
As a music director, Norman’s sharp focus on winning over new audiences reflects his own entry point to classical music—namely as a 12-year-old “band geek” trombonist in Alabama. The first in his family to pursue orchestral music as a career, the euphonium player turned maestro continues to find ways to create these same entry points for others, whether through community driven initiatives or bold concert programming. Norman has found success through programming with unique crossover collaborations and has received growing acclaim for his work leading live film soundtracks.
Norman has gained recognition through programming with unique crossover collaborations, taking bows throughout his career with artists like Smokey Robinson, Wyclef Jean, Boyz II Men, Gregory Alan Isakov, and many others in the R&B, hip-hop, and pop genres. Additionally, Huynh has received growing acclaim for his work leading live film soundtracks, ranging from Spielberg classics, An American in Paris, and special performances of the Harry Potter films in Barcelona and Madrid.
While still a student at Peabody, he co-founded the Occasional Symphony, built to celebrate holidays in modern settings, with examples including Dr. Seuss’ birthday at a children’s museum and Halloween in a half-restored church. His track record and commitment to community engagement would extend to existing legacy organizations. As the Assistant Conductor of the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra, Norman not only visited 60 public schools in helming its Musical Explorer’s Program, but also founded “Symphony and Spirits”, a routinely sold-out concert series for under-40 audiences. His accomplishments would earn him the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award, awarded “in recognition of innovative approaches to music education.” More importantly, both the Occasional Symphony and the programs he began at the PSO continue to thrive to this day.
Huynh has attained international prominence in the first years of his career, receiving a coveted invitation to one of the orchestra field’s most prestigious events, the Bruno Walter Young Conductor Preview, hosted by the League of American Orchestras. He was also selected as one of twenty-four finalists from over 600 applicants for the 2021 Malko Conducting Competition.
Selected for private mentorship by the late maestro Kurt Masur as a Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Scholarship recipient, Norman is also an alumnus of both the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival Conducting Academy, where he studied with Robert Spano. Other teachers who have made a profound impact are Gustav Meier, Marin Alsop, Markand Thakar, Demondrae Thurman, John Ratledge, and Adrian Gnam. A proud first generation Asian-American, Norman resides in Bozeman, Montana, where he enjoys stargazing, skiing, and riding his motorcycle.
VIDEO: MEET MUSIC DIRECTOR NORMAN HUYNH
Enjoy our premiere video introducing you to our new Music Director, Norman Huynh. In the video, we share a look into Norman's life, his passion for music, and his journey to becoming the Bozeman Symphony Music Director.
This video made possible in part by Sal and Carol Glenn Lalani.
This video made possible in part by Sal and Carol Glenn Lalani.
INTERIM SYMPHONIC CHOIR DIRECTOR
AND COVER CONDUCTOR RYAN TANI
Conductor Ryan Tani recently completed his two-year tenure as the Orchestral Conducting Fellow for the Yale Philharmonia under Music Director Peter Oundjian, where he was the 2021 recipient of the Dean's Prize for artistic excellence in his graduating class. Committed to meaningful community music-making, Ryan has begun his tenure as Interim Conductor of the Bozeman Symphonic Choir. He frequently serves as Cover Conductor for the Colorado and Bozeman Symphonies and also serves on the faculty at the Montana State University School of Music.
Highlights of the 2022-2023 Season include appearances with the Colorado Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Second String Orchestra, and Montana State University Symphony.
Ryan recently concluded his tenure as Music Director of the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore. A fierce advocate of new music, Ryan curated over 20 commissions from Baltimore-based composers during his four-year directorship of OS. As Resident Conductor of the New Music New Haven series, he has collaborated, under guidance of Aaron Jay Kernis, with Yale University composition students and faculty.
Ryan is also a graduate of the Peabody Institute where he studied conducting with Marin Alsop and Markand Thakar, and of the University of Southern California, where he studied voice with Gary Glaze. In 2015, he was declared the winner of the ACDA Undergraduate Student Conducting Competition at their national conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to his studies at Yale and Peabody, Ryan has also studied conducting with Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, and Gerard Schwarz. Ryan currently resides in Bozeman, Montana, where he can be found outdoors on a trail run, or in the practice room with his violin.
Highlights of the 2022-2023 Season include appearances with the Colorado Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Second String Orchestra, and Montana State University Symphony.
Ryan recently concluded his tenure as Music Director of the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore. A fierce advocate of new music, Ryan curated over 20 commissions from Baltimore-based composers during his four-year directorship of OS. As Resident Conductor of the New Music New Haven series, he has collaborated, under guidance of Aaron Jay Kernis, with Yale University composition students and faculty.
Ryan is also a graduate of the Peabody Institute where he studied conducting with Marin Alsop and Markand Thakar, and of the University of Southern California, where he studied voice with Gary Glaze. In 2015, he was declared the winner of the ACDA Undergraduate Student Conducting Competition at their national conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to his studies at Yale and Peabody, Ryan has also studied conducting with Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, and Gerard Schwarz. Ryan currently resides in Bozeman, Montana, where he can be found outdoors on a trail run, or in the practice room with his violin.