Pianist Terrence Wilson has established a reputation as one of today’s most gifted instrumentalists. In the United States he has appeared with the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Washington, DC (National Symphony), San Francisco, St. Louis, and with the orchestras of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Philadelphia and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Among the conductors with whom he has worked are Christoph Eschenbach, Alan Gilbert, Neeme Jarvi, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Robert Spano, Yuri Temirkanov, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and Gunther Herbig.
Abroad, Terrence Wilson has played concerti with such ensembles as the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland, the Malaysian Philharmonic, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Orquestra Sinfonica do Estado de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In 2005, he toured Spain with the Baltimore Symphony with Yuri Temirkanov conducting.
An active recitalist, Terrence Wilson made his New York City recital debut at the 92nd Street Y, and his Washington, DC recital debut at the Kennedy Center. In Europe, he has given recitals at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and at the Louvre in Paris. He has given recitals at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Caramoor Festival in Katonah, NY, San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre, and for the La Jolla Chamber Music Society. An avid chamber musician, he performs regularly with the Ritz Chamber Players. Festival appearances include the Blossom Festival, Tanglewood, and Wolf Trap.
During the 2017-2018 season, Terrence Wilson appears as guest soloist with (among others) the Alabama Symphony and makes his debut with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He also makes his debut with the Richmond Symphony in performances of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. Other highlights of the season include a return appearance with the New Jersey Symphony, chamber music performances with the Ritz Chamber Players in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as recitals of all of Rachmaninoff’s Etudes-Tableaux, op. 33 & 39 in advance of a recording project of these sets.
Among the projects for the 2018-2019 season is the commission of a new solo piano work by American composer Michael Daugherty.
Terrence Wilson has received numerous awards and prizes, including the SONY ES Award for Musical Excellence, an Avery Fisher Career Grant, and the Juilliard Petschek Award. He has also been featured on several radio and television broadcasts, including NPR’s Performance Today, WQXR radio in New York, and programs on the BRAVO Network, the Arts & Entertainment Network, and public television. In 2011, Wilson was nominated for a GRAMMY in the category of “Best Instrumental Soloist With an Orchestra” for his (world premiere) recording with the Nashville Symphony conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero of Michael Daugherty’s Deus ex Machina for piano and orchestra – which was written for Wilson in 2007.
Terrence Wilson is a graduate of The Juilliard School, where he studied with Yoheved Kaplinsky. He has also enjoyed the invaluable mentorship of the Romanian pianist Zitta Zohar. A native of the Bronx, he resides in Montclair, New Jersey.
Jeff TyzikGRAMMY Award winner Jeff Tyzik is one of America’s most innovative and sought-after POPS! conductors. Tyzik is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. Tyzik holds The Dot and Paul Mason Principal POPS! Conductor’s Podium at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and serves as Principal POPS! Conductor of the Detroit Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, and The Florida Orchestra. This season, Tyzik will celebrate his 23rd season as Principal POPS! Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Frequently invited as a guest conductor, Tyzik has appeared with over fifty orchestras including the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Milwaukee Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
In May 2007, the Harmonia Mundi label released a recording of works by Gershwin with Tyzik conducting the RPO and acclaimed pianist Jon Nakamatsu. This recording stayed in the Top 10 on the Billboard classical chart for over three months. Alex Ross of The New Yorker, called it “one of the snappiest Gershwin discs in years.” “His concert is the kind of thing that’s likely to give classical music a good name, perhaps even make it seem, dare I say, relevant,” writes John Pitcher of the Gannet News Service.
As an accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, and Cinemax, and released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.
Tyzik worked closely with Doc Severinsen on many projects including orchestrating many of the great band leader’s symphony orchestra programs. He produced a GRAMMY Award-winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. Tyzik’s subsequent recordings with Severinsen garnered three more GRAMMY nominations.
In his twenty-two years with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Tyzik has written over 200 arrangements, orchestrations, and compositions for orchestra. A consummate musician, Tyzik regularly appears as a guest conductor in the orchestra’s classical subscription series. He has also been commissioned to compose original works for orchestra, including a Trombone Concerto, which was funded by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and subsequently performed at Carnegie Hall. Tyzik conducted the world premiere of his original work New York Cityscapes with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2010. Tyzik composed a Timpani Concerto, commissioned by the RPO, and also led the RPO in the premiere of his new orchestral suite, Images: Musical Impressions of an Art Gallery to rave reviews. In the 2015/16 season, Tyzik premiered his new work Jazz Concerto for Violin and Orchestra on his Philharmonic Series performance with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
A native of Hyde Park, New York, Tyzik began his life in music when he first picked up a cornet at age nine. He studied both classical and jazz throughout high school and went on to earn both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music. While there, he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hall’s Ray Wright and jazz studies with Chuck Mangione. Tyzik subsequently toured with Mangione as lead trumpet and worked on five Mangione recordings as a producer and performer from 1976 to 1981.
Committed to performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse artists as Megan Hilty, Chris Botti, Matthew Morrison, Wynonna Judd, Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O’Connor, Doc Severinsen and John Pizzarelli. Tyzik has created numerous original programs that include the greatest music from jazz, classical, Motown, Broadway, film, dance, Latin, and swing.
Hector Del CurtoPraised by The New York Times as a “splendid player,” Argentinean bandonéonist Héctor Del Curto’s career, spanning for more than twenty-five years, has encompassed the traditional Tango, New Tango, Jazz, Classical and World music. As one of the most sought-after bandonéonist, he has performed with luminaries across many musical genres including the Tango legends, Astor Piazzolla and Osvaldo Pugliese, latin jazz giant Paquito D’Rivera, jazz violinist Regina Carter, saxophonist Joe Lovano, violinist Cho–Liang Lin and appeared with prestigious orchestras such as Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, St Louis Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Mobile Symphony and Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra.
Born into a family of bandonéon players, Mr. Del Curto was introduced to the world of Tango and bandonéonist by his grandfather, Héctor Cristobal. By the age of 17, he had won the title “Best Bandonéonist Player Under 25” in Argentina, and was invited to join the orchestra of the legendary Osvaldo Pugliese, the “Last Giant of Tango.” In 1999, Mr. Del Curto received the Golden Note Award from the Italian-American Network in recognition of his artistic achievements. As a music director, he directed the spectacular show Forever Tango on Broadway and founded the Eternal Tango Orchestra, a ten-piece ensemble. Since the Lincoln Center debut in 2003, the Eternal Tango Orchestra (now the Hector Del Curto Tango Orchestra) returned to Lincoln Center for three more engagements and performed at other various venues including the Skirball Center for Performing Arts.
His celebrated quintet has appeared in venues and festivals such as Lincoln Center, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Eastman School of Music, Bay Chambers Concerts, National Folk Festival, Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, Fiesta Iberoamericano de las Artes in Puerto Rico, Festival Internacional da Safona and Copa Fest in Brazil among many others.
A musician who is dedicated to the education, outreach, and preservation of tango music, Mr. Del Curto founded the Stowe Tango Music Festival, the premier tango music festival in the United States, noted both for its unique series of performances and its high level of musical training. As the festival’s Artistic Director, he directs the Stowe Tango Music Festival Orchestra, a 20 plus piece tango orchestra comprised of an extraordinary group of selected students from all over the globe and world-class artists including guest tango legends from Argentina.
Mr. Del Curto recently produced and released his second album Eternal Piazzolla featuring his quintet with a sold-out CD release concert at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. He was featured along with his first CD Eternal Tango on BBC News which was televised nationally and internationally and on Public Radio International’s The World.
Camille ZamoraIn collaboration with artists ranging from Plácido Domingo to Sting, Camille Zamora has garnered acclaim for her “dramatic and nuanced” (The New York Times) interpretations of repertoire ranging from Mozart to tango. Equally, at home in concert, recital, and on the operatic stage, Camille is known for her “dignity and glowing sound” (The New York Times) in “luminous, transcendently lyrical” performances (Opera News) that “combine gentility and emotional fire” (The Houston Chronicle).
This past season featured Camille’s Kennedy Center debut, performances at the U.S. Capitol with Yo-Yo Ma, concerts of classic tango with Fort Worth Symphony and Florida Orchestra, and five new operatic roles, including a tour de force double-bill of La Voix Humaine and I Pagliacci with Opera Columbus. She also re-created the principal soprano role of Lucia in Hindemith’s The Long Christmas Dinner with American Symphony Orchestra at Lincoln Center, the live recording of which topped the New York Times’ Classical Playlist and was chosen one of Opera News’ Best Recordings of the Year.
Other recent highlights include music of Enrique Granados with Yo-Yo Ma and Cristina Pato in 2016 documentary film The Music of Strangers by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville; the narrated concert Twin Spirits: Robert and Clara Schumann with Sting, Nathan Gunn, and Joshua Bell at Lincoln Center and LA’s Music Center; and concerts of American Songbook classics by Gershwin, Berlin, Ager, and Arlen with Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste in Los Angeles and New York City for the Spring 2016 opening of the new Steinway Hall.
Camille’s operatic appearances include Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at Anchorage Opera; Ilia in Idomeneo at Boston Lyric Opera; Despina in Così fan tutte at Glimmerglass Opera and Virginia Opera; Rosita in Luisa Fernanda at LA Opera; Elle in La Voix Humaine at Auckland Opera, Phoenicia Festival, Opera Columbus, and Bay Chamber Festival; Mimì in La bohème at Opera on the James; Nedda in I Pagliacci at Opera Columbus; Amore/Valetto in L’incoronazione di Poppea at Houston Grand Opera; The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro at On Site Opera; and Europa in Die Liebe der Danae, The Countess in Die Verschworenen, and Masha in The Chocolate Soldier at Bard Summerscape. Other signature roles include Blanche in Dialogues des Carmélites, The Governess in The Turn of the Screw, and the title roles in Susannah, Alcina, and Anna Bolena, of which the Houston Chronicle recently wrote, “Camille Zamora digs deep into Anna Bolena with the richness of her colorful and unwaveringly powerful soprano instrument… a consummate actress whose ability to get inside her character is phenomenal.”
In concert, Camille has appeared with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, London Symphony Orchestra, Guadalajara Symphony, Aberdeen Festival Orchestra, Boston Festival Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, and in live broadcasts on NPR, BBC Radio, Deutsche Radio, and Sirius XM. Highlights on the concert stage include Brahms’ Liebeslieder with Leon Fleisher at Aspen Music Festival, Beethoven’s Mass in C at Alice Tully Hall, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, The Resurrection with Chattanooga Symphony, and Schubert Lieder for the opening night of American Ballet Theater in a performance The New York Post called “one of the best received moments of the evening… quiet, monumentally serene Schubert art songs, beautifully rendered by soprano Camille Zamora.” Camille has sung Bach’s Magnificat at Carnegie Hall, and, also at Carnegie Hall, the premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Song of Elos, a performance she repeated at the American Academy in Rome. She made her Lincoln Center Festival debut in Bright Sheng’s Poems from the Sung Dynasty for Soprano and Orchestra in a performance praised by The New York Times as “dramatic and nuanced,” and premiered GRAMMY-winner Robert Aldridge and Herschel Garfein’s Away but Not Far Away as part of The AIDS Quilt Songbook @ 20 at Cooper Union’s Great Hall. A champion of contemporary music, Camille performed Aaron Jay Kernis’ Simple Songs for Soprano and Orchestra at the Bowdoin Festival under the baton of the composer, and works of Ricky Ian Gordon with the composer at the piano at Lincoln Center. She has premiered works by Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Bernd Franke, Roberto Sierra, Henry Brant, and Richard Wargo with companies including Spoleto Festival USA, New York Festival of Song, Continuum, and American Opera Projects. In addition to the award-winning original language recording of Hindemith’s The Long Christmas Dinner (Bridge Records), Camille’s recordings of twentieth and twenty-first century works include The Music of Chris Theofanidis (Albany Records), Strauss’ Die Liebe der Danae (ASO), New Music with Guitar / David Starobin (Bridge) and the world premiere recording of Scott Gendel’s “At Last” with Yo-Yo Ma on An AIDS Quilt Songbook: Sing for Hope (Naxos/GPR).
Hailed as a leading interpreter of classical Spanish song by NBC Latino and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Camille has performed and recorded principal roles in zarzuelas including La Verbena de la Paloma, La Revoltosa, Luisa Fernanda, and La Tabernera del Puerto. Her performances of classical Spanish repertoire have been heard on five continents, in series ranging from Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections to Zimbabwe’s Harare International Festival. Tango Caliente, Camille’s concert of classic Argentine orchestral songs arranged for her by GRAMMY Award winner Jeff Tyzik, tours nationally under Tyzik’s baton in the 2016/17 season.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, Camille is the Co-Founder of Sing for Hope, a leading arts non-profit that mobilizes artists in volunteer service and presents projects – such as NYC’s Sing for Hope Pianos – that make the arts accessible to all. She has presented and performed at Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, Skoll World Forum, Opera America, Aspen Ideas, and The UN, and is a regular arts and culture contributor to The Huffington Post. A 2016/17 Kennedy Center Citizen Artist, Camille has been honored with a World Harmony Torch-Bearer Award, a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Recognition, a 100 Hispanic Women Community Pride Award, and been named one of the Top 50 Americans in Philanthropy by Town & Country, NY1’s New Yorker of the Week, and one of CNN’s Most Intriguing People.
Michael Lynche
American Idol Michael Lynche is a new breed of soul singer with completely classic influences. Traces of Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Sam Cooke and James Brown all seem to flash in this uniquely talented performer. Undeniable charisma, well-crafted song arrangements and a voice soaked in soul give the big man class all his own. “Big Mike”—as he was known while winning over the hearts of a nation during his stint on American Idol—has talent so versatile, he’s played intimate jazz & blues clubs, 20,000 seat arenas and opera halls with 100 piece orchestras backing him. Through it all “Big Mike” has always had one singular goal: to spread a message of love wherever he goes.
A New York City resident for the last 15+ years, this Florida native rose from obscurity as a finalist on season 9 of the hit phenomenon, American Idol. After wowing millions of fans on American Idol with his comforting and powerful voice and performing throughout the United States as part of the American Idol LIVE! Tour, Big Mike has released 2 studio albums, toured as an opening act for Boyz II Men, Lalah Hathaway, Faith Evans, and Lyfe Jennings and toured the world with his honest storytelling brand of soul music.
Since 2012, Big Mike has been a frequent featured guest vocalist with Maestro Jeff Tyzik and his hit show — “Let’s Dance!”. With the perfect repertoire to showcase his dynamic song range, “Let’s Dance!” has been performed with orchestras all over the US and Canada, including the Dallas Symphony, Utah Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and many many more.
Tyzik has been an incredible mentor for Michael over the years, recognizing a passion and drive in the big man that has made his own career successful. The two have spent the last years collaborating on new, sensational soul inspired Pops concerts including “R&B Legends”, “Kings of Soul” and “Dancing in the Street – The Music of Motown”.
“Big Mike” brings an inspirational story and a searing, soulful, one-of-a-kind voice. He leaves you breathless and wanting more when the night is over. This extraordinary vocal talent seamlessly fuses classic R&B, thoroughly modern urban grooves, and swoon-worthy vintage soul into a fresh, unique sound. Big, yes—and beautiful, too; Michael Lynche makes music that’s unforgettable.
Ian WhitelawIan Whitelaw is a devoted and extremely talented Bagpiper who brings 51 years of education, experience, and expertise to his musical performances, competitions and special projects. What distinguishes Ian’s playing is his extraordinary passion, not only to create a remarkable sound of the instrument itself but for the unique way in which the music is expressed. Ian is a world-class champion piper and an Instrumental instructor at UCR (California, Riverside), the Music Director of the UCR Pipe Band and director of the music degree program for bagpipes in the Department of Music and has enjoyed a long career of work with pipe bands. His work with the UCR Pipe Band has been a key to the band earning the Champion Supreme Trophy of 2008, 2009 and 2010 as the best grade 4 pipe band in the Western United States. Ian was a driving force in the sound and success of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band helping them win the World Championship in 1999 in Grade 1 – the highest grade in the world’s competition arenas.
Ian speaks often of his special attention to connecting with the ‘story’ of the musical piece and fulfills this goal daily through his instruction of the bagpipes where he also helps to stimulate the students’ bond with the ‘heart and soul’ of the music. What distinguishes Ian’s playing is his extraordinary passion, not only to create a remarkable sound of the instrument itself but for the unique way in which the music is expressed.
Ian has been very successful taking the music of the Scottish Highland Bagpipe into the entertainment industry, working as a creative consultant and performer on top films and television shows including The Rundown, The General’s Daughter, The Simpsons, The West Wing, American Dad, and Arliss. He is as comfortable and enthusiastic playing in a competition for world-renowned judges as he is on stage at the Hollywood Bowl.
Ian is an accomplished competitor receiving many prizes and medals throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to demonstrating his talents as a class player in Light Music, winning several competitions, Ian has consistently won in Piobaireachd (the classical music of the bagpipe) in the course of his bagpipe playing career. Some highlights include winning the James Purgavie Horn (presented by the Caledonian Club of San Francisco) on 9 occasions, The United States Gold Medal in 2006, The Angus MacDonald Piping Competition 7 times and has been selected to compete in the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal events held in Scotland. Ian uses his vast experience in his teachings of his students to raise their level of musicianship and this is reflected by their success on the competitive platforms at the various events on the West Coast and across the United States and Canada.
Also, Ian has released his own recording CD entitled “Angels From Atlantis” – featuring an original composition – a project that was supported and encouraged by the Durfee Foundation located in Los Angeles, California – Ian is a two time “Durfee Fellow, having received grants to assist students with their own piping studies and to help with their musical development within the community.
Ian worked with his wife, Kristin to create a CD called “The Lady” and “The Breath of Calm” – specifically for relaxation and meditation and this music is available through his website – www.aceltictraveler.com.
Ian’s goal is to bring the great highland bagpipe to the public ear with all the grandness and spirit this very special instrument has and to have it be presented as a majestic instrument of the woodwind family rather than that of a novelty, something it is thought of by the casual ear.
Arleen HurtadoArleen Hurtado grew up in Southern California. Early in life, she began playing the drums and trained in ballet, jazz and tap. As a child, she discovered flamenco on a trip to Spain, which appealed to her passion for both dance and percussion. Arleen pursued her study of flamenco in Seville and Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, New Mexico, New York and California with world-renowned artists.
For the last 18 years, she has performed throughout the world including several tours in the United States at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Red Rocks in Denver and the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Internationally she has toured and performed in United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Croatia, China, and India. Arleen has been featured in music videos, commercials, television, and print. Based in Los Angeles, she teaches weekly flamenco dance classes and continues to perform and tour.
William WaldropBroadway Music Director, Pianist and Conductor, William Waldrop, currently serves as Principal Conductor of the Broadway revival of Cats at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City. Equally comfortable on the podium with the orchestra on stage or conducting from the pit, Maestro Waldrop has been hailed for his ‘dynamic conducting’ and has been praised in cities all over the US and abroad. He most recently completed a 30-city tour as the Music Director and Conductor of the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita. Waldrop conducted the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in Washington, D.C. for the tour’s final engagement. Prior to leading the very successful national tour, he was the Associate Conductor for the Broadway production starring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris.
Waldrop has conducted productions of Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh (National Tour) as well as in Germany where he was the Associate Music Supervisor for a new production in Oberhausen in 2015.
William has played or conducted in the pits of other Broadway shows including Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, On The Town, and Fiddler on The Roof. As a music director, conductor and pianist, he has led chamber ensemble productions of Grey Gardens (Bay Street Theatre starring Betty Buckley) South Pacific (Asolo Repertory Theatre) and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Off-Broadway).
As a composer, William most recently premiered his brand new solo production Still, and Still Moving: The Music of William Waldrop at New York City’s famed Metropolitan Room. William’s music has also been heard in other popular NYC venues such as Birdland, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and New World Stages.
An accomplished vocal coach, William accompanies and advises many star clients performing in current Broadway productions (Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked). Also, an active educator, he leads regular master classes throughout New York City for such groups as The Growing Studio and Broadway Classroom. Waldrop’s extensive experience on Broadway as both a conductor and pianist in today’s most popular hits and his love of the American Songbook, have made him a sought-after conductor and one of the best and brightest new faces on the symphonic pops stage today.
William received his Masters of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory of Music and his Bachelors of Music degree from The University of Mississippi.
Rebecca Covington Webber
Rebecca Covington Webber was most recently seen in the Broadway production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical where she played the role of Janelle Woods. She was also seen on Broadway in Motown the Musical where she portrayed Gwen Gordy, Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes, Gladys Horton of The Marvalettes and many others! Rebecca was also a part of the International and National tours of: Beautiful the Carole King Musical; Mamma Mia; Ain’t Misbehavin; Motown the Musical as well as Thorougly Modern Millie.
As a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, she has also played some of her favorite roles in regional theaters across the U.S. including Nehebka in AIDA, Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors, Brenda in Smokey Joe’s Café and Charlayne in Ain’t Misbehavin. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Music from Belmont University in Tennessee and she now lives with her French Bulldog, Ella Frenchgerald and her husband, Donald Webber, Jr.!
Roger KaliaWith a dynamic podium presence and noted passionate interpretations, Indian American conductor Roger Kalia has been celebrated continuously by audiences and industry professionals alike, with Symphony Magazine recently recognizing him nationally as one of five first-year music directors for his innovative programming during the pandemic. Praised for bringing a “fresh view to classical music” (The Republic, IN), Kalia is now in his third season as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, fourth season as Music Director of the 100-year-old Symphony New Hampshire, and fifth season as Music Director of Orchestra Santa Monica. He is also Co-Founder and Music Director of the 12-year-old celebrated Lake George Music Festival in upstate New York. The recipient of several awards from the Solti Foundation U.S., including an Elizabeth Buccheri Opera Residency with Lyric Opera of Chicago and five Career Assistance Awards, Kalia has been praised for his “extraordinary leadership” (Courier & Press).
In recent seasons, Kalia has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic (Poland), Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Redlands, Lima, Adrian, Bakersfield, Great Falls, Owensboro, Spokane, and Wheeling. The 2022-23 season features debuts with the Terre Haute Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and the Longy School of Music Orchestra Flex as well as a return to the Redlands Bowl with the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra.
2022-2023 season highlights include collaborations with Time for Three at the Lake George Music Festival and the world premiere of Pascal Le Boeuf’s Triple Concerto with violinist Barbora Kolarova, arx duo, and the Lake George Music Festival Symphony Orchestra; a Musicians’ Choice concert with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra – works chosen by EPO Musicians bringing them front and center – featuring Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration and Louise Farrenc’s Overture No. 1; the Evansville premieres of Joel Thompson’s An Act of Resistance and Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout; and the debut of EPO’s Uncorked Series, a series of concerts in non-traditional settings including distilleries, craft breweries, and restaurants/cafes.
A native of New York State, Kalia holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of Houston, and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.