As production week for Hänsel und Gretel is now underway, I’m reminded of the extraordinary opportunity I had last November to lead the production of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene.
Street Scene was the first full production I’ve conducted and my introduction into the wonderful world of musical theater. Since then, I’ve devoted my time into exploring opera and also got to see @phantomtour and @lesmizus (with my high school a cappella group member @sarahpansing in the cast)!
I’m deeply grateful to my teacher Mark Russell Smith and @umnopera director David Walsh for the opportunity to conduct this American masterwork, and to the @kurtweillfndn for supporting my guidance under Weill specialist James Holmes throughout the production.
I still find myself humming tunes from Street Scene and hope to conduct it again someday!
Opera debut!!! (minus conducting the orchestra…more on that below)
Over the past few weeks, I had a wonderful time working on Dream of the Red Chamber by Bright Sheng alongside the singers, director David Walsh, pianists, chorus, orchestra, dancers, my teacher Mark Russell Smith, my conducting colleagues, and the composer himself. So many valuable learning experiences and an unforgettable introduction to the world of opera. Can’t wait to conduct Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro next semester (this time with the orchestra)!
So what did I do and why? Due to stage and pit restrictions, the orchestra was placed behind the singers on stage. Originally, there were going to be monitors in the audience displaying Maestro’s conducting, but due to the difficulty of the music and the grandeur of the staging, it became apparent that an additional conductor was going to be needed in the audience, mirroring Maestro’s conducting (via monitor) and assisting the singers when needed. I stepped into that role a couple weeks before the performances and learned so much about opera conducting by constantly having my eyes glued to Maestro’s conducting and working with the fabulous singers at UMN. Grateful to have been part of this very special production!
Upon my graduation from Vanderbilt University, I have retired my position as conductor of the @commodoreorchestra . It was a true honor and privilege to lead such an exceptional orchestra as an undergraduate for the past 3 years.
VCO,
Thank you for the unparalleled opportunity, unwavering support, and unforgettable memories. Serving as your conductor has been the most rewarding experience of my life, and I will forever be proud of all the work we’ve accomplished together. The VCO baton is now in the hands of 3 incredible musicians (@isabel.lanichols , @ethan_a_morris , @paxson.amy ) as I head north to continue my conducting studies at the University of Minnesota, under my teacher’s (@ernestoconductor ) teacher, Mark Russell Smith. Thank you to everyone who made my journey so far possible and the past 3 years so wonderful!
Incredibly proud of @commodoreorchestra for a wonderful performance of Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (@isabel.lanichols VCO debut!) and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade (with me conducting)!
Never would have imagined that I would be able to conduct such a challenging masterpiece during my undergraduate years, and I’m grateful for all the hard work that the VCO members put in this semester.
Special thanks to the board for making this organization thrive and never would have expected to be leading it with my @phoenixyouthsymphonyorchestras friend and colleague @cxmerondeal !
Additional thanks to @vanderbilthustler for writing a fabulous article on the concert and @linv.isuals@lanaenglish_@wesleysmuseum for these awesome pictures!
Up next: the greatest symphony, ballet, and piano concerto ever written…
This year, I had the privilege to conduct Mahler’s Second Symphony Mvt. 1 and Bruch’s First Violin Concerto with my violin teacher Stephen Miahky (@stephenmiahkyviolin ) as the soloist with the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra (@commodoreorchestra ). The opportunities that this organization have given me are unreal, and I never would have expected to be able to conduct such masterpieces so early in my conducting path. Special thanks to my dear teacher Prof. Miahky for playing with us, and I can’t wait to see where VCO will take me for the rest of my undergraduate years!
1) Me + @stephenmiahkyviolin
2) Concert Poster
3) End of Bruch
4) Mahler - no such thing as too much tam-tam (gong)
The start of a fun and never ending journey
Awesome time at The Conducting Institute with @miguelharthbedoya . Thankful for everyone I met and studied with over the past 4 weeks!
