CONDUCTING AND MUSIC DIRECTION
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for information about the Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra
Conducting Engagements
Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra/ Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina MN
January 21, 2024
Kyle Sanborn, Double Bass Soloist
FinnFest Symphony Orchestra/ Duluth Entertainment Convention Center/ Duluth MN
July 28, 2023
Mackenzie Melemed, Piano Soloist
US Premiere: Jaakko Kuusisto Piano Concerto
Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra/ Dragseth Auditorium/ Edina MN
March 19, 2023
Paul Kosower, Cello Soloist
Golden Valley Symphony Orchestra/ Golden Valley MN
April 24, 2022
Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra/ Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina MN
January 19, 2020
Daniel Keeler, Cello Soloist
Minnehaha Music Repertory Orchestra/ Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina MN
January 20, 2019
Archer Brown, Violin Soloist
Minnehaha Music Repertory Orchestra/ Dragseth Auditorium in Edina MN
November 13, 2016
Deborah Elias, Flamenco Dance Soloist
Minnehaha Music Repertory Orchestra/ Dragseth Auditorium in Edina MN
November 8, 2015
Elizabeth York, Violin Soloist
Minnehaha Music Repertory Orchestra/ Dragseth Auditorium in Edina MN
November 9, 2014
Justin Berkowitz, Tenor Soloist
Finnfest 2014 Chamber Symphony Concert/ August 8, 2014 in Minneapolis MN
US Premieres of works by Uljas Pulkkis and Olli Kortekangas)
Katri Ervamaa, Cello Soloist
Finnfest 2011 Chamber Symphony Concert/ August 11, 2011 in San Diego CA
(US Premiere Aki Yli-Salomäki Clarinet Concerto)
Folke Gräsbeck, Pianist
Gregory Barrett, Clarinet
James Koenig, Baritone
Rockland, the Opera - USA PREMIERE/ July 15 and 17, 2011
Pine Mountain Music Festival/ Houghton, Michigan
Jukka Linkola, Composer/ Jussi Tapola, Stage Director/ Esa Ruuttunen, baritone in the lead role
Rozsa Center at Michigan Technological University
The July 17 performance was livestreamed on the web, and seen by 32,000+ users. Both performances sold out.
Boreal Chamber Symphony/ 'Concert for Lake Superior' / Marquette MI (2007, 2009)
Finn Grand Fest and Finnfest Concerts: Minneapolis MN (2002), Marquette MI (2005), Ashtabula OH (2007)
Southwest Minnesota Symphony, Guest Conductor/ Marshall MN (2007)
Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Guest Conductor/ Marquette MI (2006)
Superior Festival Orchestra, Music Director-Conductor/ Michigan (2005); Guest Cond. (2004, 2006)
Hamline University Orchestra, Guest Conductor/ St. Paul MN (2005)
Arius Chamber Orchestra/ Minneapolis MN (2004)
Florida Symphony Orchestra (44 Childrens Concerts)/ Orlando and Central Florida
North Star Opera/ St. Paul MN
College Light Opera Company/ Falmouth MA
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EUROPEAN THEATER, OPERA AND CONCERT CONDUCTING
Städtische Bühnen Osnabrück
Leiter der Schauspielmusik (Director for Stage Music)
Osnabrück, Germany
Major Productions (18 - 30 performances each):
Schweyk in World War II/ Schweyk im zweiten Weltkrieg/ By Bertolt Brecht;
Music by Hanns Eisler, Stage Direction: Goswin Monica
The Caucasian Chalk Circle/ Der kaukasische Kreidekreis/ By Bertolt Brecht;
Music by Paul Dessau
Stage Direction: Goswin Moniac and Rolf Wilken
Performances in Osnabrück, Gießen, Lünen, and Minden.
‘The Star’/ Die Kleider/ By Helmut Kajzar (Warsaw National Theater);
Music by Piotr Moss
Stage Direction: Helmut Kajzar (first German performances)
Richard’s Cork Leg/ Richards Korkbein/ By Brendan Behan
Music Irish songs, various
Stage Direction: Rudolf Kautek (Austria)
Pinocchio’s Adventures, by Willy Herzig adapted from Carlo Collodi
Craig Randal Johnson, Composer
Gingerbread Man/ Der Pfefferkuchenmann/ Christmas Play
Music by David Wood
ORIGINAL MUSIC composed for: Leonce and Lena (Buchner), Stage of Siege (Camus),
Der Tollste Tag (Turrini after Beaumarchais),
King Lear (Shakespeare), and other productions.
Resident Conductor, Rome Festival Orchestra/ Rome, Italy
Performances in Anzio, Naples, Siricusa, Formia, Foggia, Bari, elsewhere
The Marriage of Figaro (Rome, Anzio), Cosi fan tutte, various symphonic
performances in multiple venues including the Vatican, Cancelleria,
Chiesa Santa Susanna and several others
Staatstheater Braunschweig/ Solo Opera and Ballet Repetitor/ Assistant Conductor
Braunschweig, Germany
Staatstheater Bremen/ Repetitor for Ballet/ Assistant Conductor
Bremen, Germany
Hanns Kresnik, Ballet Director
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EARLIER LOCAL MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AREA ENGAGEMENTS
Ensemble Warhol
Finlandia Foundation Orchestra
Lakeshore Players
MacPhail Concerto Concert
Minneapolis All-City High School Opera: ‘THE MAGIC FLUTE’
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra/ 1991 Summer Season
North Hennepin Community College Theater
Theatre l’Homme Dieu/ Alexandria MN
Illusion Theater/ Minneapolis MN
Southern Theater/ Minneapolis MN
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REPERTOIRE CONDUCTED IN CONCERT SINCE 2002
Abels, Michael: American Variations on “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”
Mark Flaherty, Trumpet Soloist
Albéniz: Leyenda (Preludio-Asturias)
Deborah Elias, Flamenco Dance Soloist
Almila, Atso: Main Paras Vaif/ My Best Wif
James Koenig, Baritone
Anderson, Leroy: The Typewriter
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72a
Beethoven: Egmont Overture, Op. 84
Beethoven: Consecration of the House Overture, Op. 124
Bernstein: Overture to “Candide
Bizet: Habanera from Carmen
Deborah Elias, Flamenco Dance Soloist
Bloch, Ernest: ‘Schelomo’, Hebraic Rhapsody for Solo Cello and Orchestra
Daniel Keeler, Cello Soloist
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
Chadwick: ‘Euterpe’/ Concert Overture for Orchestra
Copenhaver, Lee: Classic Changes (World Premiere)
Debussy: Prélude à après-midi d’un faune
Debussy: Petite Suite
Donizetti: “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from l’elisir d’Amore
“Povero Ernesto” from Don Pasquale
“Ah! Mes Amis” from La Fille du Régiment
Justin Berkowitz, Tenor
Dvorak: Romance for Violin and Orchestra in F minor, Op. 11
Elizabeth York, Violin Soloist
Dvorak: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104
Paul Kosower, Cello Soloist
Englund, Einar: Music from the Film ‘The White Reindeer’/ Valkoinen Peura
de Falla: Danza No. 1, from La vide breve
Deborah Elias, Flamenco Dance Soloist
Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande, Prelude
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Gounod: Ballet Music from ‘Faust’
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
Guillaume, Tim: Birds and Bugs (World Premiere)
Haydn, Joseph: Symphony No. 101 in D Major “Clock”
Händel: Selections from the ‘Water Music’
Hanson, Howard: Symphony No. 2 “Romantic”, Op. 30
Heitzeg: Madeline Island: Sanctuary in Blue
Ives: Variations on “America”
Järnefelt, Armas: Praeludium, and Berceuse
Kortekangas, Olli: Triptyykki seitsemälle/ Triptych for Seven (2008)/ US Premiere
Kuusisto, Ilkka: The Land of Music
FinnFest Choir 2023
Kuusisto, Jaakko: Piano Concerto (2016)/ US Premiere
Mackenzie Melemed, Piano Soloist
Kuusisto, Taneli: Suomalainen Rukous/ Finnish Prayer
James Koenig, Baritone
Linkola, Jukka: 'Rockland, The Opera' (US Premiere)
Pine Mountain Music Festival Soloists, Opera Orchestra, Chorus
Madetoja, Leevi Symphony No. 1, Op. 29
Madetoja, Leevi: Suite, Op. 45/ from ‘The Ostrobothnians’, Pohjalaisia
Melartin, Erkki: Violin Concerto, Op. 60 (US Premiere)
Elizabeth Bell, Violin Soloist
Merikanto, Oscar: Five Songs
Eeva Savolainen, Soprano/ James Koenig, Baritone
Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A, K. 201
Mozart: Serenade No. 10 in B-flat, K. 361 “Gran Partita”
Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro: Overture and three Arias
Jake Endres, Baritone
Mozart: “Un’aura Amorosa” from Cosi fan tutte
Justin Berkowitz, Tenor
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat/ K. 595; First Movement
Ariella Kim, Piano Soloist
Nielsen, Carl: Suite for String Orchestra, Op. 1
Pärt, Arvo: Fratres/ for String Orchestra and Percussion
Premo, Evan: Fall Storm on Lake Superior
Proto, Frank: A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra
Evan Premo, Double Bassist
Pulkkis, Uljas: MADRIGAL, Concerto for Cello and Chamber Ensemble
Katri Ervamaa, Cello Soloist
Rautavaara: Concerto for Flutes and Orchestra, Op. 69
Ulla Suokko, Flute Soloist
Rautavaara: Pelimannit/ Fiddlers, for String Orchestra
Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36
Rossini: “Ecco Ridente” from Il barbiere di Siviglia
Justin Berkowitz, Tenor
Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No, 3 in B minor, Op. 61
Archer Brown, Violin Soloist
Schubert: Rosamunde Overture, K. 644
Schumann, Robert: Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120
Sibelius: Quintet in G minor (1890) for Piano Solo and String Orchestra
Adopted by Jouni Kaipainen: Intermezzo and Andante (US Premiere)
Folke Gräsbeck, Piano Soloist
Sibelius: 'En Saga' Septet/ reconstructed by Gregory Barrett
Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Sibelius: Rakastava/ The Lover, Op. 14
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen’s Return, Op. 22
Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
Sibelius: Songs: Demanten på Marssnön, Op. 36, No. 6
Flickan kom ifån sin älskings möte, Op. 37 No. 5
Var det en dröm, Op. 37, No. 4
Svarta rosor, Op. 36, No. 1
James Koenig, Baritone
Sibelius: Valse Triste, Op. 44
Sibelius: Dance Intermezzo, Op. 45, No. 2
Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast, Op. 51: Solitude and Night Music
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52
Sibelius: Pan and Echo, Op. 53
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E-flat, Op. 82
Smetana: The Moldau from ‘My Country’
Stamitz, Karl: Flute Concerto in G, Op. 29
Catherine LeGrand, Flute Soloist
Tikka, Kari: Exsultate!/ Overture Bellosio
Tikka, Kari: Threnos, for String Orchestra (World Premiere)
Commemorating the Victims of New York and Washington/ September 11, 2001
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 ‘Little Russian’
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy, Op. 20
Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d’action, Pas de caractère, Waltz
Vanhal: Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra, in D
Kyle Sanborn, Double Bassist
Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani/ Overture
Vivaldi: Autumn
Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Whitcomb, Robert: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2006- World Premiere)
Daniel Rieppel, Piano Soloist
Wiren, Dag: Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 11
Yli-Salomäki, Aki: Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra (2004)
Gregory Barrett, Clarinet Soloist