Jose-Luis Novo, guest conductor

One of Spain's most promising young conductors, José-Luis Novo is currently in his sixth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Binghamton Philharmonic, and his fourth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (Maryland). Prior to these appointments, Mr. Novo served as Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under the direction of both Music Director Emeritus Jesús López-Cobos and Music Director Paavo Järvi, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under Erich Kunzel. He has also held the positions of Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Oxford Chamber Orchestra (Ohio), and the Miami University Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Spain and the Yale Symphony Orchestra. Since 1999 he has been a Resident Conductor at the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Recent and upcoming engagements include the Baltimore, Syracuse, Modesto, Tulsa, Ridgefield, Tallahassee and Stamford Symphonies, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra and the Abilene Philharmonic. Previous guest conducting engagements have included appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony, the Andrés Segovia Chamber Orchestra at the National Auditorium in Madrid, the Vallés Symphony Orchestra at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the Principado de Asturias Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic, the Springfield Symphony (Ohio), the Echternach Festival Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and on tour in Luxembourg and Germany, the City of Granada Orchestra, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra and the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 1998 he took the National Youth Orchestra of Spain on a concert tour of Spain and Portugal with performances at the Royal Opera House in Madrid and the World Exposition in Lisbon.

He made his operatic debut conducting a production of Smetana's The Bartered Bride in collaboration with Maestro Julius Rudel, and subsequently has conducted productions of Britten's Albert Herring, Menotti's Old Maid and the Thief, and Vaughan Williams' Riders to the Sea.

As a violinist, Mr. Novo has appeared in concerts and recitals in Europe and in the United States, and has made recordings for the Spanish and Norwegian National Radios. He is a founding member of several important ensembles in which he has held leading positions: as concertmaster and soloist with the Youth Chamber Orchestra of Spain, as principal second violin of the New Amsterdam Sinfonietta, and as concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Spain.

José-Luis Novo began his musical studies in his hometown of Valladolid. At the conservatory there, he obtained the degree of Profesor Superior de Violín, with honors in solfege, harmony, and violin. A scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Culture allowed him to continue his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, where he earned a First Prize in violin. In 1988, he came to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar, obtaining both Master of Music and Master of Musical Arts degrees from Yale University, where he was also bestowed the Frances G. Wickes Award and the Yale School of Music Alumni Association Prize. In 1992, the Spanish foundation La Caixa awarded him a fellowship to study at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he completed a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting. Finally, he concluded his conducting studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His conducting teachers have included Gerhard Samuel, Carl Topilow, Louis Lane, Edmon Colomer, James Ross, and Charles Bruck (at the Pierre Monteux School in Maine). In addition, Mr. Novo has attended seminars and master classes with Günther Herbig, Lorin Maazel, Cristoph von Dohnänyi, Leonard Slatkin, Larry Rachleff, Daniel Lewis, Victor Yampolsky, and Christopher Wilkins.

Prelude to Die Meistersinger

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Divertimento from Fairy’s Kiss

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Symphony No. 4

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Gerhardt Zimmermann, guest conductor

Music Director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Missouri Ron Spigelman is a favorite and frequent conductor of the Tulsa Symphony and related chamber ensembles. Ron accepted an invitation to serve on the TSO Advisory Board this last spring and is an honors graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, London. In 1996, he was awarded an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARAM) for distinguishing himself in his field. Prior to his appointment in Springfield, he was the Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), and the Associate Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Other titles have included Music Director of the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, Music Director of the San Angelo Symphony, Music Director of the Texas Chamber Orchestra. Currently, and Music Director of the Metropolitan Classical Ballet in Texas, as well as a teacher of conducting and the Arts Administration Class "The Audience Connection" at Drury University Springfield MO.

Currently and in addition to Springfield, Ron is Principal Pops Conductor for both the Fort Worth Symphony and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. His most recent appointment (August 2009) is Music Director of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta (NY), a summer orchestra that is 92 years old!

Since immigrating to the United States in 1994, Ron has made numerous guest appearances with orchestras across the country, including the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Dallas Opera Orchestra.

Amongst numerous career highlights, he lists his debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the critically acclaimed performance and world premier of Lowell Lieberman's Pegasus. As well as his equally acclaimed Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic in 2004.

Theofanidis – Rainbow Body

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Sibelius - Violin Concerto (featuring Siwoo Kim)

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Strauss – Also sprach Zarathustra

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Andrew Grams, guest conductor

Considered one of America’s most promising and talented young conductors, Andrew Grams has already appeared with many of the great orchestras of the world including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington D.C., and the orchestras of Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey and others in the United States. On the international arena, he has conducted the Montreal Symphony, the Orchestre National de Lyon, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Melbourne Symphony, the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia Rome, the Residentie Orchestra of the Hague, the Hamburg Symphony, and the Malmo Symphony to name a few.

A Maryland native raised in Severn, Andrew Grams began conducting at the age of 17. In 1999 he received a bachelor of music degree in violin performance from the Juilliard School, and in 2003 he received a conducting degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he worked with Otto-Werner Mueller.

Respighi – Gli uccelli (The Birds)

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Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 2 (with Crescendo Awards winner, Shijun Wang)

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Schumann – Symphony No 3 (Rhenish)

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Timothy Muffitt, guest conductor

Now in his 12th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony and his 5th season with the Lansing Symphony, Timothy Muffitt continues to appear with other prominent orchestras around the country. Recent seasons have included return engagements with the San Francisco Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony along with his debut at The Hollywood Bowl. Other recent engagements have taken Muffitt to the Houston, Phoenix, Edmonton, and Spokane Symphonies, Columbus Ohio's Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony, the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in Chicago and the Harrisburg (PA) Symphony among others.

Along with continued growth in artistic excellence, Muffitt's work has been marked by innovative, imaginative programming. A strong proponent of community arts education, Muffitt has been very active in the venues of radio and lecture, presenting arts-enrichment programs through a variety of formats for diverse audiences.

Formerly Associate Conductor with the Austin Symphony, Muffitt was also Artistic Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic's Casual Classics Series in New Orleans. It was for his work in that position, that Mr. Muffitt was awarded a Certificate of Meritorious Service from the American Federation of Musicians.

Prominent performers and composers with whom Mr. Muffitt has worked include Yo Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Andre Watts, Alicia de Larrocha, Pinchas Zukerman, Van Cliburn, Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, and composers John Cage, Joseph Schwantner, Ellen Taffe Zwilich, John Harbison, Joan Tower and Bernard Rands among others.

In addition to his work with professional orchestras, Mr. Muffitt is also Music Director of the Chautauqua Institution's Music School Festival Orchestra, one of the country's premiere orchestral training ensembles.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mr. Muffitt began his musical studies at age seven on the piano and later added viola and trumpet. He received his conducting training at the Eastman School of Music, studying with David Effron, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree.

In his free time he enjoys reading, listening to music, being outdoors, and especially spending time with his son and daughter, Vincent and Clara.

Harris – Symphony No 3

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Copland – Suite from Billy the Kid

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Grofé – Grand Canyon Suite

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Daniel Hege, guest conductor

Currently in his tenth season as Music Director of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Hege is widely recognized as one of America's finest young conductors, earning critical acclaim for his fresh interpretations of the standard repertoire and for his commitment to creative programming. In June 2009, Mr. Hege was appointed Music Director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and begins his tenure with that orchestra in September 2010.

Following a nationwide search, Mr. Hege was named Music Director of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in April, 1999. In June 2001, he completed a five year tenure with the Baltimore Symphony where he held the titles of Assistant, Associate and Resident Conductor and led the orchestra in subscription, family and run-out concerts. Mr. Hege has also served as Music Director of the Haddonfield (NJ) Symphony, Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony, Music Director of the Encore Chamber Orchestra in Chicago and Music Director of the Chicago Youth Symphony where he was twice honored by the American Symphony Orchestra League for innovative programming.

Daniel Hege has guest conducted the Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Indianapolis, Oregon, Colorado, San Diego, Columbus and Phoenix symphonies; the Rochester, Buffalo and Calgary Philharmonics; and at the Grand Teton and Aspen Music Festivals. International engagements include leading the Singapore Symphony and the St. Petersburg Symphony at the Winter Nights Festival. In addition, Mr. Hege regularly works with the Syracuse Opera where he has conducted productions of Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, Tosca and Don Pasquale.

In April 2003, Mr. Hege led the Syracuse Symphony in a critically acclaimed concert at a sold-out Carnegie Hall. He has also made two recordings - a disc with the Baltimore Symphony and the Morgan State University Choir featuring works by Adolphus Hailstork and a CD with the Syracuse Symphony with works by Verdi, Barber, Debussy, Respighi and James Johnson.

Recent and upcoming guest conducting appearances include appearances with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Rochester and Orlando Philharmonics, Louisville Orchestra and the Pacific, Grand Rapids, Madison and Santa Rosa Symphonies.

Daniel Hege received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1987 from Bethel College, Kansas where he majored in music and history. He continued his studies at the University of Utah, receiving a Master of Music degree in orchestra conducting and also founding the University Chamber Orchestra and serving as Assistant Conductor of the University Orchestra and Music Director of the Utah Singers. He subsequently studied with Paul Vermel at the Aspen Music Festival and in Los Angeles with noted conductor and pedagogue Daniel Lewis.

In May 2004, Mr. Hege was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Le Moyne College in Syracuse for his contributions to the cultural life in central New York State. Born in Colorado, Mr. Hege currently resides in Syracuse with his wife, Katarina Oladottir Hege, a violinist, and their three daughters.

Mahler – Symphony No. 3 with Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, Tulsa Youth Opera, Tulsa Boy Singers & Tulsa Children’s Chorus

Alastair Willis, guest conductor

Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis served as the associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony from 2000 to 2003. He previously held the position of assistant conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras and music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.

In the past few seasons, Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, Cologne Opera, China National Symphony (Beijing), Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, among others. His recording of Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortileges with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.

Last season, Willis returned to Skagit Opera, Washington to lead Madama Butterfly and made his debut with the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonic, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the orchestras of Memphis, Richmond and Thunder Bay. Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England. He received his bachelor's degree with honors from England's Bristol University and an education degree from Kingston University. He won a scholarship in 1996 to study with Larry Rachelff at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, graduating with a Master of Music degree in 1999.

Handel – Music for the Royal Fireworks

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Soloist - TBA

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Bartok – Concerto for Orchestra

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Ron Spigelman, guest conductor

Music Director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Missouri Ron Spigelman is a favorite and frequent conductor of the Tulsa Symphony and related chamber ensembles. Ron accepted an invitation to serve on the TSO Advisory Board this last spring and is an honors graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, London. In 1996, he was awarded an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARAM) for distinguishing himself in his field. Prior to his appointment in Springfield, he was the Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), and the Associate Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Other titles have included Music Director of the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, Music Director of the San Angelo Symphony, Music Director of the Texas Chamber Orchestra. Currently, and Music Director of the Metropolitan Classical Ballet in Texas, as well as a teacher of conducting and the Arts Administration Class "The Audience Connection" at Drury University Springfield MO.

Currently and in addition to Springfield, Ron is Principal Pops Conductor for both the Fort Worth Symphony and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. His most recent appointment (August 2009) is Music Director of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta (NY), a summer orchestra that is 92 years old!

Since immigrating to the United States in 1994, Ron has made numerous guest appearances with orchestras across the country, including the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Dallas Opera Orchestra.

Amongst numerous career highlights, he lists his debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the critically acclaimed performance and world premier of Lowell Lieberman's Pegasus. As well as his equally acclaimed Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic in 2004.

Perhaps some background on who originally wrote and performed the soundtrack.

Timothy Muffitt, guest conductor

Now in his 12th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony and his 5th season with the Lansing Symphony, Timothy Muffitt continues to appear with other prominent orchestras around the country. Recent seasons have included return engagements with the San Francisco Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony along with his debut at The Hollywood Bowl. Other recent engagements have taken Muffitt to the Houston, Phoenix, Edmonton, and Spokane Symphonies, Columbus Ohio's Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony, the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in Chicago and the Harrisburg (PA) Symphony among others.

Along with continued growth in artistic excellence, Muffitt's work has been marked by innovative, imaginative programming. A strong proponent of community arts education, Muffitt has been very active in the venues of radio and lecture, presenting arts-enrichment programs through a variety of formats for diverse audiences.

Formerly Associate Conductor with the Austin Symphony, Muffitt was also Artistic Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic's Casual Classics Series in New Orleans. It was for his work in that position, that Mr. Muffitt was awarded a Certificate of Meritorious Service from the American Federation of Musicians.

Prominent performers and composers with whom Mr. Muffitt has worked include Yo Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Andre Watts, Alicia de Larrocha, Pinchas Zukerman, Van Cliburn, Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, and composers John Cage, Joseph Schwantner, Ellen Taffe Zwilich, John Harbison, Joan Tower and Bernard Rands among others.

In addition to his work with professional orchestras, Mr. Muffitt is also Music Director of the Chautauqua Institution's Music School Festival Orchestra, one of the country's premiere orchestral training ensembles.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mr. Muffitt began his musical studies at age seven on the piano and later added viola and trumpet. He received his conducting training at the Eastman School of Music, studying with David Effron, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree.

In his free time he enjoys reading, listening to music, being outdoors, and especially spending time with his son and daughter, Vincent and Clara.

Harris – Symphony No 3

Notes coming soon

Copland – Suite from Billy the Kid

Notes coming soon

Grofé – Grand Canyon Suite

Notes coming soon