André Raphel is an American conductor. He is Conductor Laureate of the

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is a regional orchestra based in Wheeling, West Virginia. Since its founding in 1929, the orchestra has performed at the historic Capitol Music Hall. Temporary Relocation In May 2007, the "Capitol" closed its door ...

, having served as Music Director from 2003-2018.

Early life and education

Born André Raphel Smith in Durham, North Carolina, he began formal music lessons at age 11. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the

University of Miami The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, incl ...

, and pursued further study at

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

where he earned his Master's Degree. While at Yale University, he studied conducting with

Otto-Werner Mueller Otto-Werner Mueller (23 June 1926 – 25 February 2016) was a German-born conducting, conductor. He was a professor of conducting at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, as well as at the Juilliard School in New York City. Mueller was bo ...

. He continued studies with Mueller at the

Curtis Institute of Music The Curtis Institute of Music is a private conservatory in Philadelphia. It offers a performance diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in opera, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera. All students attend on full scholarship. Hi ...

earning a diploma in conducting, and at the

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

where he received an Advanced Certificate in orchestral conducting.

Career

André Raphel began his career as music director of the

Norwalk Youth Symphony The Norwalk Youth Symphony (NYS) is an American symphony orchestra for high school aged and younger students. The symphony is based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Established in 1956, the symphony includes students from Connecticut and some parts of New ...

(1990). He was assistant conductor of the

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is the second-oldest professional symphony orc ...

(1991–1994), where he worked with

Leonard Slatkin Leonard Edward Slatkin (born September 1, 1944) is an American conductor, author and composer. Early life and education Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a Jewish musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His fat ...

. He was assistant conductor of The

Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription ...

(1994–2000), working with

Wolfgang Sawallisch Wolfgang Sawallisch (26 August 1923 – 22 February 2013) was a German conductor and pianist. Biography Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich, the son of Maria and Wilhelm Sawallisch. His father was director of the Hamburg-Bremer-Feuerversich ...

. He also served as an assistant conductor to

Kurt Masur Kurt Masur (18 July 1927 – 19 December 2015) was a German conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Or ...

at the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

(2000–2002). For fifteen years he served as music director at the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.(2003-2018) He is currently Conductor Laureate of the

(2018). He has appeared as guest conductor with major orchestras in North America including the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...

, the

Cleveland Orchestra The Cleveland Orchestra, based in Cleveland, is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the " Big Five". Founded in 1918 by the pianist and impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Sev ...

, Philadelphia Orchestra; and in Europe with Bamberger Symphoniker, Moravska Philharmonie and Neubrandenburger Philharmonie.

Honors

* Distinguished Alumnus Award; University of Miami Frost School of Music, 2012 * Distinguished Service Award; Yale University, 2006 * Honorary Doctorate; West Liberty University, 2004 * Order of the Long Leaf Pine; North Carolina Senate, 2001

Recordings

Gershwin: Cuban Overture, Ravel: Ma Mere l'Oye, Roy Harris: Third Symphony, Bamberger Symphoniker
Music of Barber, Danielpour and Respighi; for Bayerischer Rundfunk, Bamberger Symphoniker
"Honoring the Dream" William Grant Still: Symphony No.1, The Philadelphia Orchestra

References

* Phillip Nones, May 21, 2016.
Important new American piano concerto premiere in Wheeling
Bachtrack * Elaine Mack, November 2009. "Black Classical Musicians in Philadelphia" p. 343-347 * Peter G. Davis, March 1997
American Classics
New York Magazine

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Raphel, Andre Living people American male conductors (music) Musicians from Durham, North Carolina University of Miami Frost School of Music alumni Yale School of Music alumni Curtis Institute of Music alumni 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century American male musicians Year of birth missing (living people)