The Jacobs School’s Orchestral Conducting Department produces an exceptional number of conductors with successful careers. “With an excellent lab orchestra at their disposal three hours a week, students get to conduct a wide repertoire and develop their rehearsal skills, an aspect of conducting pedagogy neglected in many conducting programs,” said department chair Professor Arthur Fagen, who shares teaching assignments with Professor David Effron. Musical life at the school is rich and varied, giving student conductors an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of opera, ballet, film, and contemporary music projects.
Former students of the Jacobs School of Music Conducting Department have conducted in prestigious opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric, Berlin Staatsoper, New York City Opera, and the Houston Grand Opera. In addition, Jacobs School graduates have conducted major symphonic orchestras worldwide. Members have also enjoyed notable success in academia, music theater, and international competitions.
A Selection of Recent Appointments
Andrew Altenbach – Music Director, Opera Studies; Conductor,
Boston Conservatory
Marcelo Cormio – Conductor, Sarasota Opera; Assistant Conductor, University of Kentucky
David Glover – Assistant Conductor, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Fawzi Haimor – Assistant Conductor, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Roger Kalia – Music Director, Young Musicians Foundation
Debut Orchestra of Los Angeles
Paul Ghuen Kim – Resident Conductor, Oregon Symphony Orchestra
Charles Latshaw – Music Director, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
Andres Moran – Resident Conductor, El Paso Symphony
Brian Onderdonck – Music Director, Los Angeles Center Stage Opera; Associate Conductor, Atlanta Opera
Emily Senturia – Music Staff, Houston Grand Opera; Assistant Conductor, Atlanta Opera
William White – Assistant Conductor, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra