Harvey
Felder, described by Symphony Magazine
as "one of America's promising conductors," brings to the podium a
refreshing combination of talents. He is
known for his deeply moving performances of the great "Classical"
repertory as well as his entertaining performances on Pops stages across this
country. Mr. Felder has distinguished
himself as a leader among his generation of conductors. "Felder is widely regarded for his
effective and quality programming and performances" (Saint Louis Star). He has
been characterized as having an affable and magnetic podium demeanor which
helps audiences feel immediately welcomed, comfortable, and connected to his
performances.
Mr.
Felder is entering his eighteenth season as music director of the Tacoma
Symphony Orchestra. He has also served
as assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony, Resident conductor of the
Saint Louis Symphony, conductor of special projects with the Atlanta Symphony,
and artistic adviser/conductor of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, Mr. Felder has held the post of
music director with the Fox Valley (WI) Symphony, the Johns Hopkins Symphony
(MD), and the Ann Arbor Summer Symphony (MI).
During
the 1991 “Carnegie Hall at 100” celebration, Mr. Felder was invited to make his
Carnegie Hall debut, conducting the American Symphony Orchestra. The success of these performances led to the
beginning of an exciting and active guest conducting career. He has appeared as guest conductor with the
Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Delaware, Grant Park, Honolulu, Indianapolis,
Kansas City, National, New Jersey, North Carolina, Saint Louis, San Antonio, Spokane
Symphonies, Dayton, Florida, Rochester, Orange County Philharmonics, as well as
the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra (OH), the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia,
the Missouri Symphony Society, Chicago Sinfonietta, Orquesta Sinfonica del
Estado de Mexico, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica, the New Japan
Philharmonic, Mikkeli City Orchestra of Finland and the Osaka Telemann Chamber
Orchestra. Mr. Felder comes with a long
list of engagements; but perhaps more telling, he also possesses a long list of
reengagements. During the 2011-2012
concert season Mr. Felder will accept a second invitation to guest conduct the
Chicago Sinfonietta, make his debut appearance with the San Francisco Bay Brass
and serve as “Artist in Residence” at the University of Oklahoma.
Under
Mr. Felder’s leadership as music director of the Tacoma Symphony, the orchestra
has realized artistic goals before unimagined.
The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, once a valued and respected amateur
community orchestra has been developed into one of the finest professional
symphonies in the Northwest. Mr.
Felder’s artistry, professionalism and passion have helped to craft the TSO
into one of Tacoma’s true artistic treasures.
Mr.
Felder's ability to communicate sophisticated musical ideas to young people,
his public speaking ease and his engaging professional demeanor have made him a
valued asset to the organizations he has represented. "Audiences like his style...a reserved
and dignified conductor who knows the score and what he wants to do with
it" (Milwaukee
Journal/Sentinel).
Mr.
Felder has garnered Mayoral Proclamations, Citations of Excellence, Outstanding
Citizenship Awards, all of which attest to his involvement in the
community. As an advocate for arts
education, Mr. Felder served on the Kennedy Center/Getty Center’s Commission--a
nonpartisan body organized to study the role of the arts in educational
reform.
Mr.
Felder has studied conducting with Max Rudolf, Gustav Meier, Gunther Schuller,
Elizabeth Green, Zdenek Macal, David Zinman, Gennady Rozdestvensky, Kurt Mazur,
and Seiji Ozawa. He attended the
Festival at Sandpoint, the Conductor’s Guild Summer Institute, and the
Tanglewood Music Center. Felder holds
degrees in music from The University of Wisconsin-Madison and The University of
Michigan.
Learn more about Maestro Felder from this marvelous Tacoma Weekly article!
Also, follow this link to listen to his interview on KUOW!
Here's a link to another HF interview, this one from the heart of Texas.