Biographies Mark Russell Smith Craig Knox Conductor Tuba
Mark Russell Smith, a 1987 graduate of the Principal tuba of the Pittsburgh Symphony Curtis Institute of Music, is artistic director of Orchestra since 2005, Craig Knox was previously orchestral activities at the University of Minnesota, acting principal tuba of the San Francisco music director of the Quad City Symphony Symphony and principal tuba of the Sacramento Orchestra, and artistic director of the Greater Symphony. He has performed with the orchestras Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. of Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, Minnesota, Mr. Smith has conducted the Saint Louis, Detroit, and Seattle, as well as the Orchestre Houston, Colorado, Eugene, Hartford, Jacksonville, de la Suisse Romande. Phoenix, Santa Barbara, Winnipeg, Costa Rica, As a soloist, Mr. Knox premiered Jennifer and Xalapa symphonies; the Minnesota Orchestra; Higdon’s Tuba Concerto and André Previn’s Triple the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Orchestra Concerto for trumpet, horn, and tuba, both with London (Ontario); and the Tulsa Philharmonic. the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has also In 2007, 2012, and 2014 he returned to his alma appeared as a soloist with the U.S. Army Band mater to lead the Curtis Symphony Orchestra “Pershing’s Own” and the Tokyo Symphony in Verizon Hall, and he led Curtis On Tour in Orchestra, and has toured with the Empire Brass. China and Korea in 2011. He has conducted He is co founder of the Center City Brass Quintet, the Curtis Opera eatre and Virginia Opera, which has made six recordings for the Chandos and has appeared at the Eastern Music Festival, and Cryston labels. He has made recordings for the Berkshire Choral Festival, and the European Naxos with the Chicago Chamber Musicians Center for Opera and Vocal Art in Ghent, Belgium. Brass Quintet and for the Albany label with Mr. Smith collaborated with Yo Yo Ma on Bridge the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra low brass of Souls, a concert featuring world premieres by section; and has recorded a solo album, A Road Asian and American composers. A rm believer Less Traveled . in the use of technical innovation, he annually Mr. Knox graduated from the Curtis conducts the nal round of the Minnesota Institute of Music, where he studied with Paul International Piano e Competition, streamed Krzywicki. His previous teachers included Samuel live online. Pila an, Chester Schmitz, and Gary Ofenloch. Mr. Smith was previously music director He joined the tuba faculty of the Curtis Institute of the Richmond, Cheyenne, and Spring eld of Music in 2014. He also teaches at Carnegie symphony orchestras. He studied cello at the Mellon University and has presented master Juilliard School with Claus Adam and conducting classes, seminars, and recitals worldwide. at the Curtis Institute of Music with Max Rudolf and Otto Werner Mueller.
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Jennifer Higdon Yuwon Kim Composer Conducting Fellow
Jennifer Higdon is one of the most acclaimed Yuwon Kim, from Daegu, South Korea, and frequently performed composers working entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2018. today. She has received the Pulitzer Prize, two As a conducting fellow, she works closely with Grammy awards for best contemporary classical Curtis mentor conductor Yannick Nézet Séguin. composition, Guggenheim and Pew fellowships, All students at Curtis receive merit based, a commission from the Serge Koussevitzky full tuition scholarships, and Ms. Kim is Music Foundation, the Nemmers Prize from the Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow. Northwestern University, and two awards from e winner of the 2018 Princess Astrid the American Academy of Arts and Letters. International Music Competition, Ms. Kim Dr. Higdon has been commissioned has worked with Tonhalle Orchester Zurich; by a wide range of performers, including the Netherlands, Bad Reichenhaller, and South the Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Minnesota Czech philharmonics; the North Netherlands, orchestras; the Chicago and Pittsburgh symphony Trondheim, and Prague symphony orchestras; orchestras; the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Residentie Orkest e Hague; the Aspen “ e President’s Own” United States Marine Conducting Academy Orchestra; and the Band; the Tokyo String Quartet; and Eighth Austrian Ensemble for New Music. She has also Blackbird. She has also been commissioned assisted Xian Zhang at NJO: Dutch Orchestra by individual artists such as baritone omas and Ensemble Academy and Jac van Steen at Hampson; violinists Hilary Hahn, Jennifer Koh, Opera North (U.K.). In 2015 Ms Kim was and Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg; and pianists awarded the Holland Scholarship from the Dutch Gary Gra man and Yuja Wang. Her rst opera, Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, and Cold Mountain , was a resounding success, in 2014 she received the Robert Spano Conductor winning an International Opera Award for Prize from the Aspen Music Festival and School. best world premiere; the opera’s recording was Ms. Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in nominated for two Grammy awards. Her works composition and conducting from Seoul are recorded on more than 65 CDs. National University and a Master of Music Dr. Higdon holds a bachelor’s degree with distinction from Mozarteum University in ute performance from Bowling Green State Salzburg, where she studied conducting with University, an artist diploma in composition Dennis Russell Davies, Hans Drewanz, Hans from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a master’s Graf, Jorge Rotter, and Bruno Weil. degree and Ph.D. in composition from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1994 Dr. Higdon joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, where she holds the Milton L. Rock Chair in Composition Studies.
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