Overview
Todd
Craven
Overview
Todd
Craven
“
I am driven by a deep passion for promoting orchestral music, with a particular emphasis on celebrating the works of living composers. My mission extends to cultivating young and diverse audiences, creating meaningful connections that introduce new people to the richness of this great art form.”
Known for his imaginative programming, vibrant podium presence, and deeply collaborative leadership, American conductor Todd Craven has built a career spanning major symphony orchestras, operatic institutions, and professional community-focused ensembles. He is currently in his fifth season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and his tenth season as Music Director of the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, where his work has strengthened artistic standards, expanded audience engagement, and fostered meaningful partnerships in the community.
Craven has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras across the United States including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra (TFO), Jacksonville Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, among others. Internationally, his guest appearances include the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Radom Chamber Orchestra (Poland), Karlovy Vary Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), and the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic (Russia). He has also received an invitation to conduct in South America with the Goiânia Symphony Orchestra (Brazil).
Collaborating with a wide range of distinguished artists, including tenor Lawrence Brownlee, violinist Rachel Barton Pine, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, and author-narrator Jamie Bernstein, Mr. Craven has also assisted in recording projects with Gil Shaham, Béla Fleck, and conductor Eric Jacobsen.
Craven’s professional development was shaped in significant part by his tenure as Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, where he worked closely with Music Director JoAnn Falletta. In this role, he led pops, education, and community concerts, collaborating with world-class soloists and gaining extensive experience within the artistic, administrative, and community-facing life of a major American orchestra.
A committed champion of living composers alongside the traditional canon, Craven emphasizes clarity, stylistic integrity, and collaboration in rehearsal, drawing on his own experience as an orchestral musician to build trust and rapport with players.
Craven is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2019 Los Angeles Conducting Competition and has previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Florida Grand Opera, as well as Music Director of the University of Michigan Life Sciences Orchestra and the Michigan Pops Orchestra. His mentors include Kenneth Kiesler at the University of Michigan and Marin Alsop at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute. Other mentors include Donald Schleicher, Larry Rachleff and William Wiedrich.
Before turning to conducting, Craven enjoyed a distinguished career as a trumpet player. A prize-winning musician, he served as Principal Trumpet of the Sarasota Orchestra and performed with major ensembles including the New York Philharmonic and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, in addition to frequent appearances at the Sarasota Music Festival.
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“ …. conductor Todd Craven provided a nuanced lead in his baton-less conducting. The poetry of his gestures neatly produced gratifying results”..- Sarasota Herald Tribune
“ Todd’s musical sensitivity, acute sense of rhythmic pulse, and charming personality contribute to his overall abilities as a Music Director/Conductor”..- Marin Alsop
“Todd is a deeply gifted conductor and has won the respect of the orchestra and audience here in Buffalo. His technique, stylistic understanding, knowledge of the score and communication skills are excellent”.. - JoAnn Falletta
Concerts
Concerts
Upcoming engagements 2026
Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra @mattiekellyartscenter
January 24, 2026/7p.m.
Stand in the Light, featuring guest vocalist Jordan Smith, winner of The Voice
An evening inspirational selections and gospel favorites
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January 27 & 28: NFSO annual 5th grade education concerts
When the Orchestra Dances
Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 8
Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Scherzo
Stravinsky: Infernal Dance from the Firebird
J.S. Bach: Minuet in G, BMW 843
Saint Saens: Danse Bacchanale
Ball: Oboe Concerto, mvt. II, featuring Clara Gonçalves
Copland: Hoedown from Rodeo
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February 21/7p.m.
Stars of Tomorrow: Joyfully Free
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21
Korngold, Violin Concerto in D, Op 35, mvt. I
Griffes, Poem for Flute and Orchestra
Jennifer Higdon: Blue Cathedral
Brahms: Symphony No. 3
Our annual spotlight on extraordinary young talent, paired with Higdon’s luminous sonic journey and Brahms’ deeply personal third symphony.
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April 18/7 p.m.
Resurrection Symphony
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Ann Toomey, soprano
Zoie Reams, mezzo-soprano
Featuring the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, Choral Society of Pensacola, students from the Niceville High School Chorus and guest operatic soloists.
The season culminates in Gustav Mahler’s monumental vision of life, death, and transcendence—a breathtaking finale of emotional and sonic grandeur.
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June 20, 7p.m.
The Paper Bear: Film with live orchestra
Follows majestic black bears on coming-of-age adventure, revealing Florida's natural wonders beyond scenic beaches. Aims to inspire conservation movement in Florida Panhandle region.
Director: Arix Zalace
Composers: George Strezov and Alexander Kostov
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Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra
July 11, 7:30 p.m. Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts
Works of living composers- Hits from the past 3 seasons
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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra @mattiekellyartscenter
October 24, 7p.m. Opening Classics
December 4, Holiday Pops
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December 20, Orchestra Indiana, Guest Conductor
Holiday Brass Spectacular
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Engagements 2026
The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra
April 12, 2025, Mattie Kelly Arts Center
“Ode to Joy”
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Hymn for Everyone
AARON COPLAND: The Promise of Living from The Tenderland
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy”
featuring the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale and Niceville High School Chorus
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Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Guest Conductor
April 4 and 5, 2025, Eddie Rose Ampitheater
Rockin’ at the Roost: The Music of Fleetwood Mac
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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra
February 22, 2025, Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Stars of Tomorrow: “The Roaring Twenties”
AUDREY KELLY: Speakeasy: Four Vignettes of the Roaring Twenties
TELEMANN: Oboe Concerto in G major
SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto in D minor, mvt. I
DVORAK: Concerto for Violin in A minor, mvt I
featuring the student winners of the John Leatherwood Concerto Competition
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GERSHWIN: American in Paris
RAVEL: La Valse
RESPHIGHI: Pines of Rome-Mvt. IV, The Pines of the Appian Way
joined by students from the Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra
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Orchestra Indiana, Guest Conductor/Music Director Finalist
February 1, 2025
“Let Your Heart Dance”
HECTOR BERLIOZ: Roman Carnival Overture
SERGEI RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op. 45
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LEONARD BERNSTEIN/arr. Mason: West Side Story Selections
RICHARD RODGERS/arr. Custer: The Carousel Waltz
RICHARD RODGERS/arr. Custer: My Funny Valentine
DUKE ELLINGTON/arr. Custer: Duke Ellington! Medley for Orchestra
JAMES HORNER/arr. Moss: The Titanic Medley
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Engagements 2024
Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Parks concerts
July 21 and July 25, Towne Park and Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Grace Morgan, guest vocalist
“Where Wishes Come True: A Night of Enchanted Melodies”
Selections from Disney, classic cartoons and Broadway.
https://virginiasymphony.org/concert/be-our-guest-a-night-of-enchanted-melodies/
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Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra
“From the Ashes”
Saturday, July 27th, 7p.m. Harriet’s Orlando Ballet Theatre
featuring VoxO in collaboration with Central Florida Composers Forum
https://www.pamatter.org/occo/concerts
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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra
“Halloween Spooktacular and Opening Classics”
Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Selections to include:
Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain
Elena Kats-Chernin: Wild Swans Suite
Michael Daugherty: Dead Elvis
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
https://mattiekellyartscenter.org
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Anderson Symphony Orchestra
“Lords of the Dance”
Saturday, November 2 Paramount Theatre, Anderson, IN
Program:
Stephanie Berg: Ravish and Mayhem
Bartok: Romanian Dances
Sarasate: Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen, featuring Leila Warren, violin
Kodály: Dances of Galanta
Saint-Saëns: Danse Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah
Copland: Saturday Night Waltz from Rodeo
Lumbye: Copenhagen Steam Railway Gallop
Hardiman/Moore: The Lord of the Dance
Lecuona/Grofé: Malagueña
Ginastera: Danza final from Estancia
https://andersonsymphony.org/ticket-info/
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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops: “Christmas on Broadway”
featuring Broadway actress/singer, Grace Morgan
The Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale
Unified Gospel Choir
Voices of Northwest Florida
Selections from classic Broadway musicals alongside traditional holiday favorites
https://mattiekellyartscenter.org
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Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra: Symphony of Illusions with Michael Grandinetti
Saturday, April 27, Steinmetz Performing Arts Hall, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando, FL
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Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra: Heroes and Villains, A Comiconcert
Saturday, June 1, 7 p.m. Harriet’s Orlando Ballet Theatre
Contemporary works from around the world with a backdrop of graphics from Silverline Comics
Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra
2023-24 Season
Opening Classics: War and Peace, October 21, 7 p.m. Mattie Kelly Arts Center
HANDEL: Overture to the Royal Fireworks
SHUYING LI: Purple Mountains
PROKOFIEV: Suite from War and Peace
I.Fanfare and Polonaise
II.Intermezzo
III. Final Chorus (featuring the NFSO Chorale)
INTERMISSION
HOLST: The Planets
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Special event: Sounds of the Spectrum
A concert to benefit the Emerald Coast Autism Center
November 8, 7 p.m. Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Guest artists:
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
David Spencer, trumpet
Artists from the Pensacola Opera
The Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale
The Unified Gospel Choir
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Handel: Messiah
December 2, 7 p.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church (Niceville)
December 3, 2:30 p.m. Point Washington United Methodist Church (Pt. Washington)
Featuring the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, Darrin Isaac Scott, director
Soloists: Kara Grover, Abigail Mallory, Randy Ho, Lloyd Reshard
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Holiday Pops: Towne and Country, December 8, 7 p.m. Mattie Kelly Arts Center
A Holiday extravaganza featuring guest country artists the Swon brothers.
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Stars of Tomorrow concert: “Star-Crossed Lovers” February 10, 2024 MKAC
Featuring the winners of the 2024 John Leatherwood Concerto Competition
Coleridge-Taylor: Overture to the Song of Hiawatha
F.J. Haydn: Concerto for Piano in G major, mvt. I
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, mvt. I
Grieg: Piano Concerto in D, mvt. I
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Selections from Suites I and II
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Carmina Burana: March 9/10, 2024, Mattie Kelly Arts Center
A Co-Production with the NWF Ballet and New Orleans Ballet Theatre
Guest singers: Sarah Vautour, Ben Taylor and Chris Bozeka
Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, Darrin Isaac Scott, Director
Carlos Simon: Fate Now Conquers
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
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GUEST APPEARANCES 2022-23
Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Assistant/Cover conductor, 2023
Recording projects with Eric Jacobsen, Gil Shaham and Bela Fleck
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and chorus, Guest Conductor, December 18, 2022
Handel: Messiah
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Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Guest Conductor
Concert at the Springs, April 1, 2023
Music of the Beatles with Classic Mystery Tour
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CONCERTS, 2022
Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra Summer Series
June 15th 7:00, Harriet’s Orlando Ballet Theatre
“ To There from Here”
Premieres of works by Charlie Griffin, David Wilborne and Kyle Throw
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July 16, Harriet’s Orlando Ballet Theatre
“Tales of Intrigue”
Works by Sarah Omens, contemporary arrangements of Ravel and Mussorgsky
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August 27, Harriet’s Orlando Ballet Theatre
Featuring VoxOCCO
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ECMEA All County Festival, University of Buffalo, Slee Hall, March 25-26
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
Moncayo: Huapango
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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra:
Classics Finale: Declarations of Independence, March 18, Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Sibelius: Finlandia with the NFSO chorale
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466, featuring Anne-Marie McDermott
INTERMISSION
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
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Carnegie Hall Link Up Concerts, The Orchestra Swings, March 2nd and 3rd
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Classics #3: An Evening of Magic by the Sea, February 26, Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Mozart: Overture from the Magic Flute
Haydn Piano Concerto No. 11, I. Vivace, featuring Walter Gonzalves
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D, I Allegro moderato, featuring Filippo Aldrovandi-Reina
INTERMISSION
Haydn: Symphony No. 39 in G minor, IV. Allegro moto
Anna Clyne: Seascape from Abstractions
Still: Tranquil Cove from Patterns
Britten: Peter Grimes: Four Sea Interludes, IV. Storm
Debussy: La Mer
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CONCERTS 2021
Festive Celebration: Soaring to New Heights, September 18, 7:30
Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Boyer: Celebration Overture
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Rachel Barton Pine, soloist.
Harlin: Art of Flight
Respighi: Pines of Rome
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Halloween Spooktacular! October 23rd, 7p.m. Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Stravinsky: Firebird Suite: Infernal Dance
Dukas: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Saint-Saens: Danse Macabre
Prokofiev: Death of Tybalt, from Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2
Zimmer: Symphonic Highlights from Pirates of the Caribbean
Gounod: Funeral March of a Marionette
Williams: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Suite for Orchestra
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Holiday Pops: Around the World with the NFSO, December 10th,
7:30, Mattie Kelly Arts Center
J. Stephenson: Holiday Overture
L. Mozart: Sleigh Ride (Austria)
Delius: Sleigh ride (England)
Prokofiev: Troika from Lt. Kije Suite (Russia)
Faith: Brazilian Sleigh Bells (Brazil)
Anderson: Sleigh Ride (United States)
Holcombe: Festive Sounds of Hanukah (Israel)
Ivey: O Lord of Glory, featuring the Voices of Northwest Florida
Ivey: Sounds of the Holiday Season, featuring Dr. Devin Stephenson and the VONF
INTERMISSION
Anderson: Christmas Festival, featuring the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale
Wilberg: First Noel
Rutter: Go Tell it on the Mountain
Davis/Custer: Stille Nacht, featuring Alexandra Pererverzeva, cello
Wachner: The Snow Lay on the Ground
Ivey: O Soulful Night, featuring guest soloist Christina Maxwell
Lopez/Lopez: Let it Go! from the movie Frozen, featuring Christina Maxwell
Silvestri: God Bless us Everyone, featuring Christina Maxwell, the Voices of Northwest Florida and the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale
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THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA, SOUND WAVES #1: HOLIDAY BRASS
Thursday, December 16, 2021 | Sun City Center - UMC @ 3:00 pm
Friday, December 17, 2021 | Al Lang Stadium @ 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 18, 2021 | The Palladium @ 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 18, 2021 | The Factory @ 8:00 pm
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
G. F. Handel (Arr. Howard Cable)
Capriol Suite
I. Basse-Danse
II. Pavane
III. Tordion
IV. Bransles
V. Pieds-en-l’air
Peter Warlock (Arr. James Haynor)
O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen
Canzon septimi toni No. 2
Gabrieli (Arr. King)
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
J. S. Bach (Arr. Enrique Crespo)
INTERMISSION
Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
Traditional (Arr. Sterling Procter)
Greensleeves
Ralph Vaughan Williams (Arr. E. Howarth)
Selections from The Nutcracker ♫
March, Chinese Dance; Arabian Dance; Russian Dance
P.I. Tchaikovsky (Arr. Phil Snedecor)
A Christmas Festival
Leroy Anderson (Arr. Christian Arnold)
Frosty the Snowman – Rudolph – Santa Medley
Arr. Seiter
Santa’s Cool Yule
Rob Will
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Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, Harriett’s Orlando Ballet, August 21
Reverie and Reflection, featuring VoxOCCO (Claire Hodge, director)
Alexandra Fol: Reflective Reflexion
Donald Yu: Piano Concerto No. 1, Caroline Hill Owen
Dear Umma: ChanJi Kim
Jose Jesus Ravelo: La Muerta de Cristo, featuring VoxOcco
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Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, June 5
Pale Blue Dot, A reconnection in the aftermath of separation
Jamie Wehr: Sayewitalli, Mauricio Céspedes Rivero, guest viola soloist
Kitty Xiao: The Distance of the Moon
Andrew Scott Foust: Pale Blue Dot
Guest Conductor, University of Illinois Chamber Strings, April 27, 2021
CPE Bach: Sinfonia in B minor
Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a
Walker: Lyric for Strings
Wiren: String Serenade
Guest conductor, Lyric Theater @ Illinois, March 2, 2021.
Samuel Barber: Vanessa
University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra and student soloists
Guest Conductor, University of Illinois Chamber Strings, March 23, 2021.
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nacht Musik
Jesse Montgomery: Starburst
Suk: String Serenade
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ENGAGEMENTS 2020
Acting Music Director/Guest conductor: University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Fall 2020:
Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Dvorak: String Serenade
Guest conductor/Finalist, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Mattie Kelly Arts Center, October 24, 2020.
Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
Copland: Clarinet Concerto
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances.
Guest Conductor, Toledo Symphony, Young Artists Debut Concert, St. John XIII Church, January 24, 2020.
Featuring music of Russel Peck and the Winners of the Toledo Symphony League Young Artists Competition.
Guest Conductor,Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Ferguson Center for the Arts, November 2, 2020.
Sensory friendly concert featuring Debussy Prelude to an Afternoon of a Faun, Mozart Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, George Walker Lyric for Strings.
Assistant Conductor, Florida Grand Opera, Don Giovanni, October 23-Dec.20, 2019.
Guest Conductor, Redeemer Chorus and members of the Venice Symphony, December 15, Church of the Redeemer, 2019
Handel’s Messiah, Part I.
Guest Conductor, Choral Artists of Sarasota with members of the Sarasota Orchestra, December 22, 2019
Featuring music of James Grant, Daniel Pinkham, Julian Wachner and Daniel Moe.
Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, The Abbey, Orlando, FL, September 12, 2019.
Music from the Video Games: Dead Cells and Wizard of Legend.
Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, Wayne Densch Theater, Orlando, FL August 17
Featuring music of local Orlando composers Jamie Wehr, Troy Gifford and New York based composer Randall Woolf.
Los Angeles Conducting Competition, Glendale Performing Arts Center, August 10
Beethoven Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”, mvt. I.
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, May 3
Music of Pink Floyd and the Machine
Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra/Buffalo Philharmonic Side by Side, Kleinhans Music Hall, April 28
Mahler: Symphony No. 1
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, April 7
Family Concert: Around the World with the BPO
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, March 13
West Side Public School Project:
Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man
Dvorak, Cello Concerto, Mvt. I
Peter Boyer, Ellis Island: A Dream of America
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, February 7
Education Link Up Concert: “Orchestra Moves”
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, February 10
Family Concert: Collaboration with Platypus Theatre, “Presto Mambo”
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, February 23
Pops Concert: The Music of Billy Joel, Elton John and more, featuring Michael Cavanaugh
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, March 4
Family Concert: Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, March 16
Pops Concert: The World of Oz
Buffalo Philharmonic Florida Tour, Cover Conductor for Maestra JoAnn Falletta, March 29-April 4, 2019
Borodin, Overture to Prince Igor
Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2, Fabio Bidini, piano
Prokofiev, Selections from Romeo and Juliet
Khatchaturian, Waltz from Masquerade Suite
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