MEET THE FINALISTS
STEFAN SANDERS: SEPTEMBER 28 & 29, 2019
Stefan Sanders, conductor and arts advocate, cultivates cultures of artistic excellence, sustained growth and development, and meaningful engagement within the communities he is fortunate to serve. This year, Stefan embarks on his seventh season as the Music Director of the Central Texas Philharmonic, his third season as Music Director for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina and his second season as Music Director for the Spartanburg Philharmonic in South Carolina. Stefan will make debuts this season with the Bozeman Symphony in Montana and the Filharmonia Podkarpacka in Rzeszów, Poland. He will also make return engagements this season to the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba in Havana, the Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska in Olsztyn, Poland, the Stockton Symphony, and several weeks as the cover/assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic.
Stefan has collaborated with many distinguished orchestras. Recent guest conducting appearances include the Naples Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Stockton Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba, Orquesta Sinfónica de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska (Poland), Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), and the Round Top International Festival Institute. Stefan has collaborated with an array of guest artists, such as renowned violinist Gil Shaham, electric bass virtuoso Victor Wooten, pianist and pedagogue Anton Nel, Broadway performer and Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander, The B-52s, Pink Martini, Vanessa Williams, and many more.
Stefan recently concluded a four year tenure with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Appointed its Associate Conductor in 2014, Stefan was promoted to Resident Conductor in 2016. While with the BPO, Stefan lead over 200 performances on all of the orchestra’s series. Of note, Stefan began his professional career as a member of the BPO’s trombone section where he played from 1999-2007 before pursuing conducting full time. He also recently concluded a one year appointment as Principal Conductor for the Hot Springs Music Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas 2018. Stefan was a featured conductor for the League of American Orchestras “Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.” The prestigious conductor showcase is designed to feature talented young conductors poised for music directorships with American Orchestras and was hosted by Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony in May of 2016.
Prior to a career as a conductor, Stefan was an internationally renowned trombonist, having performed as a soloist in North America, Asia, and Europe. His performance of Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra, with the Czech Philharmonic, can be heard on the
Albany Records label. As a trombonist, Stefan performed with several orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Seattle Opera’s 2001 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Stefan was a fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen under the tutelage of maestros, Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff and Hugh Wolff. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Stefan has collaborated with many distinguished orchestras. Recent guest conducting appearances include the Naples Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Stockton Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba, Orquesta Sinfónica de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska (Poland), Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), and the Round Top International Festival Institute. Stefan has collaborated with an array of guest artists, such as renowned violinist Gil Shaham, electric bass virtuoso Victor Wooten, pianist and pedagogue Anton Nel, Broadway performer and Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander, The B-52s, Pink Martini, Vanessa Williams, and many more.
Stefan recently concluded a four year tenure with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Appointed its Associate Conductor in 2014, Stefan was promoted to Resident Conductor in 2016. While with the BPO, Stefan lead over 200 performances on all of the orchestra’s series. Of note, Stefan began his professional career as a member of the BPO’s trombone section where he played from 1999-2007 before pursuing conducting full time. He also recently concluded a one year appointment as Principal Conductor for the Hot Springs Music Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas 2018. Stefan was a featured conductor for the League of American Orchestras “Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.” The prestigious conductor showcase is designed to feature talented young conductors poised for music directorships with American Orchestras and was hosted by Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony in May of 2016.
Prior to a career as a conductor, Stefan was an internationally renowned trombonist, having performed as a soloist in North America, Asia, and Europe. His performance of Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra, with the Czech Philharmonic, can be heard on the
Albany Records label. As a trombonist, Stefan performed with several orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Seattle Opera’s 2001 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Stefan was a fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen under the tutelage of maestros, Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff and Hugh Wolff. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
ANDREW CRUST: OCTOBER 26 & 27, 2019
ANDREW CRUST has developed a versatile international career as a conductor of orchestral, opera, ballet and pops programs. Currently serving as the Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony in Canada, Andrew conducts a large number of subscription, pops, educational and contemporary concerts with the VSO each season.
In the 18/19 season Andrew will debut with the Bozeman and Lima Symphonies as a Music Director finalist, and will begin a relationship with the San Diego Symphony as Cover Conductor. Recent engagements include performances with the Winnipeg Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Hartford Symphony, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie in Québec.
Andrew is equally at ease in the pit, having conducted ballet with Ballet Memphis and the New Ballet Ensemble, and opera with Opera McGill, College Light Opera Company, Boulder Opera Company, and others. As a Pops conductor, Andrew has collaborated with such artists as Rufus Wainwright, Steven Page, Michael Bolton, Cirque de la Symphonie, and the United States Jazz Ambassadors, and will make his film debut conducting Casablanca with the Vancouver Symphony in the 18/19 season.
Andrew served as Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra from 2017-2019 where he conducted around forty concerts each season. He stepped in last minute for a successful subscription performance featuring Bernstein’s Serenade with violinist Charles Yang. Andrew also served as Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. As the Assistant Conductor of the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Maine from 2016-2018, he conducted a variety of concert series, helped coordinate the orchestra’s extensive educational programs, and helped lead a program for concertgoers under 40 called “Symphony and Spirits”.
Crust was the Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA) in the summers of 2017 and 2018, assisting Michael Tilson Thomas on an Asian tour, as well as Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop and James Ross at Carnegie Hall and in a side-by-side performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has also served as Cover Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony and Nashville Symphony, Assistant/Cover Conductor of the Boulder Philharmonic and Assistant Conductor of Opera McGill.
Abroad, he has led concerts with the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana in Italy, Hamburger Symphoniker at the Mendelssohn Festival in Germany, the Moravian Philharmonic in the Czech Republic, the Filharmonia “Mihail Jora” of Bacau, Romania, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile in Santiago. In 2017 he was awarded first prize at the Accademia Chigiana by Daniele Gatti, receiving a scholarship and an invitation to guest conduct the Orchestra di Sanremo in Italy. He was a semi-finalist for the Nestlé/Salzburg Festival’s Young Conductors Award competition, and was selected by members of the Vienna Philharmonic as a winner of the Ansbacher Fellowship, with full access to all rehearsals and performances of the Salzburg Festival.
Andrew is dedicated to exploring new ways of bringing the classical music experience into the 21st century through innovative programming and marketing, creating community-oriented and socially-sensitive concert experiences, and utilizing social media and unique venues. Andrew lives in Vancouver and enjoys making and consuming visual art during study breaks.
In the 18/19 season Andrew will debut with the Bozeman and Lima Symphonies as a Music Director finalist, and will begin a relationship with the San Diego Symphony as Cover Conductor. Recent engagements include performances with the Winnipeg Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Hartford Symphony, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie in Québec.
Andrew is equally at ease in the pit, having conducted ballet with Ballet Memphis and the New Ballet Ensemble, and opera with Opera McGill, College Light Opera Company, Boulder Opera Company, and others. As a Pops conductor, Andrew has collaborated with such artists as Rufus Wainwright, Steven Page, Michael Bolton, Cirque de la Symphonie, and the United States Jazz Ambassadors, and will make his film debut conducting Casablanca with the Vancouver Symphony in the 18/19 season.
Andrew served as Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra from 2017-2019 where he conducted around forty concerts each season. He stepped in last minute for a successful subscription performance featuring Bernstein’s Serenade with violinist Charles Yang. Andrew also served as Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. As the Assistant Conductor of the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Maine from 2016-2018, he conducted a variety of concert series, helped coordinate the orchestra’s extensive educational programs, and helped lead a program for concertgoers under 40 called “Symphony and Spirits”.
Crust was the Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA) in the summers of 2017 and 2018, assisting Michael Tilson Thomas on an Asian tour, as well as Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop and James Ross at Carnegie Hall and in a side-by-side performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has also served as Cover Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony and Nashville Symphony, Assistant/Cover Conductor of the Boulder Philharmonic and Assistant Conductor of Opera McGill.
Abroad, he has led concerts with the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana in Italy, Hamburger Symphoniker at the Mendelssohn Festival in Germany, the Moravian Philharmonic in the Czech Republic, the Filharmonia “Mihail Jora” of Bacau, Romania, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile in Santiago. In 2017 he was awarded first prize at the Accademia Chigiana by Daniele Gatti, receiving a scholarship and an invitation to guest conduct the Orchestra di Sanremo in Italy. He was a semi-finalist for the Nestlé/Salzburg Festival’s Young Conductors Award competition, and was selected by members of the Vienna Philharmonic as a winner of the Ansbacher Fellowship, with full access to all rehearsals and performances of the Salzburg Festival.
Andrew is dedicated to exploring new ways of bringing the classical music experience into the 21st century through innovative programming and marketing, creating community-oriented and socially-sensitive concert experiences, and utilizing social media and unique venues. Andrew lives in Vancouver and enjoys making and consuming visual art during study breaks.
NORMAN HUYNH: DECEMBER 14 & 15, 2019
Photo: Stark Photography
Norman Huynh has established himself as a conductor with an ability to captivate an audience through a multitude of musical genres. This season, Norman continues to showcase his versatility in concerts featuring Itzhak Perlman, Hip-Hop artists Nas and Wycleff Jean, and vocal superstar Storm Large.
Born in 1988, Norman is a first generation Asian American and the first in his family to pursue classical music as a career. He is currently the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Associate Conductor of the Oregon Symphony and maintains an international guest conducting schedule. Upcoming and recent engagements include the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Orchestra Sinfònica del Vallès, Eugene Symphony, Grant Park Music Festival and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra of Bangkok. He has served as a cover conductor for the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic with John Williams.
Norman has been at the forefront of moving orchestral music out of the traditional concert hall into venues where an orchestra is not conventionally found. In 2011, he co-founded the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore to celebrate holidays by performing innovative concerts in distinct venues throughout the inner-city. The orchestra performed on Dr. Seuss’ birthday at Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Halloween in a burnt church turned concert venue, and Cinco de Mayo in the basement bar of a Mexican restaurant. As Music Director, Norman commissioned new works by multiple composers to give concert goers the rare experience of being present for a piece of music’s world premiere.
Norman is a recipient of the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award for his work with the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra’s Musical Explorer’s Program. As the Assistant Conductor of the PSO from 2013-2016, Norman visited over sixty schools across the state of Maine and co-founded Symphony & Spirits, a series of events for young professionals, between the ages of 21-39, to make the orchestra more accessible and engaging for a younger audience.
The late Kurt Masur selected Norman to study with him privately in Leipzig through the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Scholarship. Norman is an alum of the Aspen Music Festival’s Conducing Academy, studying with Robert Spano. In the summer of 2014, he spent two weeks honing his craft at the Tanglewood Music Center. Norman currently resides in Portland, OR and enjoys skiing, boardgames and riding his motorcycle. IG: @normanconductor
Born in 1988, Norman is a first generation Asian American and the first in his family to pursue classical music as a career. He is currently the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Associate Conductor of the Oregon Symphony and maintains an international guest conducting schedule. Upcoming and recent engagements include the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Orchestra Sinfònica del Vallès, Eugene Symphony, Grant Park Music Festival and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra of Bangkok. He has served as a cover conductor for the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic with John Williams.
Norman has been at the forefront of moving orchestral music out of the traditional concert hall into venues where an orchestra is not conventionally found. In 2011, he co-founded the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore to celebrate holidays by performing innovative concerts in distinct venues throughout the inner-city. The orchestra performed on Dr. Seuss’ birthday at Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Halloween in a burnt church turned concert venue, and Cinco de Mayo in the basement bar of a Mexican restaurant. As Music Director, Norman commissioned new works by multiple composers to give concert goers the rare experience of being present for a piece of music’s world premiere.
Norman is a recipient of the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award for his work with the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra’s Musical Explorer’s Program. As the Assistant Conductor of the PSO from 2013-2016, Norman visited over sixty schools across the state of Maine and co-founded Symphony & Spirits, a series of events for young professionals, between the ages of 21-39, to make the orchestra more accessible and engaging for a younger audience.
The late Kurt Masur selected Norman to study with him privately in Leipzig through the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Scholarship. Norman is an alum of the Aspen Music Festival’s Conducing Academy, studying with Robert Spano. In the summer of 2014, he spent two weeks honing his craft at the Tanglewood Music Center. Norman currently resides in Portland, OR and enjoys skiing, boardgames and riding his motorcycle. IG: @normanconductor
WESLEY SCHULZ: JANUARY 25 & 26, 2020
Wesley Schulz holds the Lucy Moore Ruffin Chair as the Associate Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony. Additionally, he is Music Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra in Washington State. Previously, Schulz served as Music Director of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Festival Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at University of Puget Sound.
In his first two seasons with the North Carolina Symphony Schulz conducted 150 performances. This included a last-minute Masterworks debut conducting Bernstein’s Serenade with violinist Philippe Quint as well as the entire ballet score to Bernstein’s Fancy Free and Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony. One reviewer wrote, "The North Carolina Symphony and Schulz definitely drew the utmost life out of Schubert's themes....Schulz did a spectacular job." As the main conductor of the Symphony’s Pops series, Schulz has collaborated with Pink Martini, Cirque de la Symphonie, Broadway By Request, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael Cavanaugh and more. In addition, Schulz leads dozens of performances in the Young People’s Concerts, SummerFest, Holiday and Education series.
Schulz just completed his first season as Music Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra; one of the Pacific Northwest’s best regional orchestras. In their first year together they presented works by Brahms, Anna Clyne, Respighi, Kevin Puts, Rachmaninoff and more. Their performances are regularly broadcast on Classical KING FM in Seattle. From 2014-2015 Schulz served as Conducting Fellow of the Seattle Symphony. He made his Benaroya Hall debut with the orchestra in a sold-out performance with singer and songwriter Gregory Allan Isakov. Schulz has received multiple invitations to return to the podium of the Seattle Symphony conducting a collaborative concert with singer and songwriter Amos Lee and to prepare the orchestra for the Oscar winning conductor and composer, John Williams. Additionally, Schulz has been a regular guest conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra developing and conducting family and educational performances that reach over 15,000 young people annually.
For six seasons Schulz led the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra in record setting growth and development. Together they set attendance and fundraising records, commissioned three world premieres including a work by Christopher Theofanidis, devised new artistic programs and collaborated with a host of artistic organizations ranging from the Bainbridge Chorale to the EDGE Improv troupe. In 2010 Schulz and his former chamber orchestra, the Texas Chamber Group, won the American Prize in Orchestral Performance for their special performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. One judge commented “astonishingly good and…extremely impressive in almost every detail.” From 2009 to 2013 Schulz was the assistant conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon. Schulz was responsible for programming and conducting the annual Symphony Pops concert in addition to assisting the Music Director in the Classical Series. Through creative programming and energetic performances, Schulz and the orchestra transformed the Pops concert into the most highly attended program at the Britt Classical Festival – growing the number of attendees from 400 to over 2,000.
Upcoming and recent conducting engagements include the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Venice Symphony Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony, Round Rock Symphony and the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, among others. Schulz graduated magna cum laude with Bachelor degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Education from Ball State University and Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. When not on the podium, Schulz can be seen running the streets of your city or playing endless fetch with his two dogs, Chewbacca and Han Solo.
In his first two seasons with the North Carolina Symphony Schulz conducted 150 performances. This included a last-minute Masterworks debut conducting Bernstein’s Serenade with violinist Philippe Quint as well as the entire ballet score to Bernstein’s Fancy Free and Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony. One reviewer wrote, "The North Carolina Symphony and Schulz definitely drew the utmost life out of Schubert's themes....Schulz did a spectacular job." As the main conductor of the Symphony’s Pops series, Schulz has collaborated with Pink Martini, Cirque de la Symphonie, Broadway By Request, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael Cavanaugh and more. In addition, Schulz leads dozens of performances in the Young People’s Concerts, SummerFest, Holiday and Education series.
Schulz just completed his first season as Music Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra; one of the Pacific Northwest’s best regional orchestras. In their first year together they presented works by Brahms, Anna Clyne, Respighi, Kevin Puts, Rachmaninoff and more. Their performances are regularly broadcast on Classical KING FM in Seattle. From 2014-2015 Schulz served as Conducting Fellow of the Seattle Symphony. He made his Benaroya Hall debut with the orchestra in a sold-out performance with singer and songwriter Gregory Allan Isakov. Schulz has received multiple invitations to return to the podium of the Seattle Symphony conducting a collaborative concert with singer and songwriter Amos Lee and to prepare the orchestra for the Oscar winning conductor and composer, John Williams. Additionally, Schulz has been a regular guest conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra developing and conducting family and educational performances that reach over 15,000 young people annually.
For six seasons Schulz led the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra in record setting growth and development. Together they set attendance and fundraising records, commissioned three world premieres including a work by Christopher Theofanidis, devised new artistic programs and collaborated with a host of artistic organizations ranging from the Bainbridge Chorale to the EDGE Improv troupe. In 2010 Schulz and his former chamber orchestra, the Texas Chamber Group, won the American Prize in Orchestral Performance for their special performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. One judge commented “astonishingly good and…extremely impressive in almost every detail.” From 2009 to 2013 Schulz was the assistant conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon. Schulz was responsible for programming and conducting the annual Symphony Pops concert in addition to assisting the Music Director in the Classical Series. Through creative programming and energetic performances, Schulz and the orchestra transformed the Pops concert into the most highly attended program at the Britt Classical Festival – growing the number of attendees from 400 to over 2,000.
Upcoming and recent conducting engagements include the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Venice Symphony Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony, Round Rock Symphony and the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, among others. Schulz graduated magna cum laude with Bachelor degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Education from Ball State University and Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. When not on the podium, Schulz can be seen running the streets of your city or playing endless fetch with his two dogs, Chewbacca and Han Solo.
THOMAS HEUSER: MARCH 7 & 8, 2020
Photo: Photo Divine
American conductor Thomas Heuser has been widely recognized for his stirring leadership and energetic presence both onstage and in the community. Currently he serves as Music Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony in Idaho Falls, Idaho, as well as the San Juan Symphony, an innovative regional orchestra based in Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico, that serves the Four Corners. Thomas lives in scenic Durango with his wife, violinist Lauren Avery, and their son Theodore.
Dr. Heuser was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for Orchestral Conducting in Germany while serving as a Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. His Fulbright residency at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München included orchestral performances in Munich and Berlin and his European operatic debut with Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland. Moving from Munich to San Francisco, Thomas enjoyed three seasons as the Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, working alongside members of the San Francisco Symphony.
Highlights of Heuser’s 2019-20 season include guest conducting engagements with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra as a music director finalist, as well as the 2020 New Mexico All-State Symphony Orchestra. He has been a regular guest conductor with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and has appeared as a guest with Symphony New Hampshire, the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and the Wyoming, Missoula, Flagstaff, Illinois, Vallejo, Grand Junction, and Portsmouth Symphony Orchestras, among others.
The son of two molecular biologists at Washington University in St. Louis, Thomas began violin lessons at an early age and studied piano at the St. Louis Symphony Music School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College and within two years had earned his Masters in Instrumental Conducting (MM) from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. In 2013 he completed his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting (DMA) from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. His primary conducting mentors include Paavo Järvi, Bruno Weil, Mark Gibson, Thomas Baldner, David Effron, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, Gustav Meier, and Larry Rachleff.
Dr. Heuser was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for Orchestral Conducting in Germany while serving as a Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. His Fulbright residency at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München included orchestral performances in Munich and Berlin and his European operatic debut with Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland. Moving from Munich to San Francisco, Thomas enjoyed three seasons as the Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, working alongside members of the San Francisco Symphony.
Highlights of Heuser’s 2019-20 season include guest conducting engagements with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra as a music director finalist, as well as the 2020 New Mexico All-State Symphony Orchestra. He has been a regular guest conductor with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and has appeared as a guest with Symphony New Hampshire, the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and the Wyoming, Missoula, Flagstaff, Illinois, Vallejo, Grand Junction, and Portsmouth Symphony Orchestras, among others.
The son of two molecular biologists at Washington University in St. Louis, Thomas began violin lessons at an early age and studied piano at the St. Louis Symphony Music School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College and within two years had earned his Masters in Instrumental Conducting (MM) from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. In 2013 he completed his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting (DMA) from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. His primary conducting mentors include Paavo Järvi, Bruno Weil, Mark Gibson, Thomas Baldner, David Effron, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, Gustav Meier, and Larry Rachleff.
JANNA HYMES: MAY 2 & 3, 2020
Photo: Chris Bucher
Versatility, passion and innovation are the hallmarks of American conductor Janna Hymes. Renowned for her inspiring performances, musical depth and energetic presence both on and off the podium, she has developed a reputation as an exciting, detailed communicator. Praised by the press as “an architect, a builder in sound, a conductor with an overall view who never misses details”, Ms. Hymes is Music Director of Indiana’s Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) since 2017. A popular guest conductor, Hymes continues to expand her relationships with orchestras nationwide.
Upcoming guesting engagements include The Sewanee Summer Music Festival and the Savannah Philharmonic.
In May 2019 Ms. Hymes stepped down from her post as Music Director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. During her tenure, she led the orchestra on its first international tour at the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts and introduced several performance and education initiatives that are now part of the orchestra's season. Recent performance highlights include guest engagements with the Venice Symphony (FL), and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (VA).
Among the orchestras that Ms. Hymes has guested with are the Houston, Indianapolis, Oregon, North Carolina, Portland Symphony Orchestra (ME), New Hampshire, Hartford (CT), Madison (WI), Florida West Coast, Stamford, Harrisburg (PA), Spokane (WA), Richmond (VA), Springfield (MA), Chappaqua Chamber (NY), Bangor (ME) and Omaha symphony orchestras, as well as the San Francisco Women’s Philharmonic, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Florida Orchestra. Internationally, she has led the Costa Rica National Symphony (where she has been a frequent guest) the Delta Ensemble of Holland (where she has toured Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague), the National Orchestre de Lyon, Besancon Chamber Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico.
Ms. Hymes' previous posts include Music Director of the Maine Grand Opera, Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony, Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony and Music Director of the Columbus Women’s Orchestra, the Cincinnati Composers’ Guild and the I Solisti Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. She has served as Assistant Conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra (OH) and the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy, and as a frequent guest of the Messiaen Academy in Zwolle, Holland. Ms. Hymes also founded and served as Music Director of the Maine Pro Musica Orchestra, a professional orchestra in Mid Coast Maine that she launched in 2008.
In addition to her professional conducting career, Ms. Hymes is a frequent guest speaker. She has has served on the music faculty of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA), University of Akron (OH), Butler University (IN), and as Artist in Residence at Colby College (ME).
Born in New York City, Janna Hymes is a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a 1999 Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation Grant, and a prizewinner of the 1998 International Conducting Competition in Besancon, France. She studied under such prominent conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Meier, Otto Werner-Mueller and Gunther Schuller, and holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. She also studied at the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, the Festival at Sandpoint (ID), and the Conductor’s Guild Institute.
Upcoming guesting engagements include The Sewanee Summer Music Festival and the Savannah Philharmonic.
In May 2019 Ms. Hymes stepped down from her post as Music Director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. During her tenure, she led the orchestra on its first international tour at the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts and introduced several performance and education initiatives that are now part of the orchestra's season. Recent performance highlights include guest engagements with the Venice Symphony (FL), and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (VA).
Among the orchestras that Ms. Hymes has guested with are the Houston, Indianapolis, Oregon, North Carolina, Portland Symphony Orchestra (ME), New Hampshire, Hartford (CT), Madison (WI), Florida West Coast, Stamford, Harrisburg (PA), Spokane (WA), Richmond (VA), Springfield (MA), Chappaqua Chamber (NY), Bangor (ME) and Omaha symphony orchestras, as well as the San Francisco Women’s Philharmonic, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Florida Orchestra. Internationally, she has led the Costa Rica National Symphony (where she has been a frequent guest) the Delta Ensemble of Holland (where she has toured Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague), the National Orchestre de Lyon, Besancon Chamber Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico.
Ms. Hymes' previous posts include Music Director of the Maine Grand Opera, Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony, Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony and Music Director of the Columbus Women’s Orchestra, the Cincinnati Composers’ Guild and the I Solisti Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. She has served as Assistant Conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra (OH) and the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy, and as a frequent guest of the Messiaen Academy in Zwolle, Holland. Ms. Hymes also founded and served as Music Director of the Maine Pro Musica Orchestra, a professional orchestra in Mid Coast Maine that she launched in 2008.
In addition to her professional conducting career, Ms. Hymes is a frequent guest speaker. She has has served on the music faculty of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA), University of Akron (OH), Butler University (IN), and as Artist in Residence at Colby College (ME).
Born in New York City, Janna Hymes is a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a 1999 Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation Grant, and a prizewinner of the 1998 International Conducting Competition in Besancon, France. She studied under such prominent conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Meier, Otto Werner-Mueller and Gunther Schuller, and holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. She also studied at the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, the Festival at Sandpoint (ID), and the Conductor’s Guild Institute.