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Carl St.Clair

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carl Ray St. Clair(born June 5, 1952) is an Americanconductor.

Early life and education

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Born inHochheim, Texas,St. Clair went to school inYoakum, Texas,and graduated fromYoakum High School.He attended theUniversity of Texasand later studied conducting withGustav Meierat theUniversity of MichiganandLeonard BernsteinatTanglewood.[1]He was Music Director of theAnn Arbor Symphony Orchestra(Michigan) from 1985 to 1992, and of theCayuga Chamber Orchestra(Ithaca, New York) from 1986 to 1991. Beginning in 1986, he was an assistant conductor with theBoston Symphony Orchestra.[2]In 1990, he was a recipient of theSeaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award.[3]St. Clair has served on the faculty ofSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Success as a conductor

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In January 1990, he conducted thePacific Symphonyfor the first time. On the success of that appearance, he was named the orchestra's music director, a position he still holds.[4]During his Pacific Symphony tenure, he and the orchestra have commissioned and recorded several works, includingRichard Danielpour'sAn American Requiem(Reference Recordings) andElliot Goldenthal'sFire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio(Sony Classical) with cellistYo-Yo Ma.Other recordings include "Radiant Voices" and "Postcard" by composer in residenceFrank Ticheli(Koch International Classics), and the two piano concertos ofLukas Foss(harmonia mundi). The orchestra and St. Clair host an annual festival of American composers,[5]including "Uncharted Beauty: The Music of Lou Harrison" (2005–2006), "Los Sonidos de México" (2006–2007), and "The West — Music inspired by the American Frontier" (2007–2008).

In Europe, St. Clair was the principal guest conductor of theRadio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgartfrom 1998 to 2004, where his work included a three-year recording project of theVilla–Lobossymphonies. He becameGeneralmusikdirektor(General Music Director, or GMD) of theStaatskapelle Weimarin 2005, a post he held for three years. In 2008, he took up the post of GMD of theKomische Oper Berlin,[1]with an initial contract of six years, but in May 2010 he resigned effective with the end of the 2009/10 season.

In 2012, St. Clair was appointed to Principal Conductor and Artistic Leader of the Thornton Symphony Orchestra at theUniversity of Southern California'sThornton School of Music.

St. Clair has worked on the creation and implementation of various symphony education programs, including "Classical Connections", "arts-X–press" and "Class Act". In 2006, he worked with the GermanBundesjugendorchester(National Youth Orchestra).

On September 13, 2013, St. Clair was appointed Principal Conductor of theOrquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica[es].[6]

References

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  1. ^abGeorge Loomis (2008-09-30)."A Texan takes over as music director of the Komische Oper Berlin".International Herald Tribune.Retrieved2009-03-19.
  2. ^John Rockwell(1990-08-21)."Bernstein Leads His Annual Tanglewood Concert".The New York Times.Retrieved2009-03-19.
  3. ^Allan Kozinn(2000-03-10)."Chicago Conductor Gets $50,000 Prize".The New York Times.Retrieved2009-03-19.
  4. ^Chute, James. "Curtain falls on conductor search; Foster set standard, but now St.Clair looks to get the job".Orange County Register,11 February 1990.
  5. ^Daniel J. Wakin (2006-09-03)."In Cities Across the United States, It's Raining Concert Halls".The New York Times.Retrieved2009-03-19.
  6. ^Yendry Miranda (2013-08-13)."Carl St.Clair es el nuevo director de la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional".La Nación.Retrieved 2013-08-13.
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Cultural offices
Preceded by Music Director, Pacific Symphony
1990–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by Generalmusikdirektor, Staatskapelle Weimar
2005–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Generalmusikdirektor, Komische Oper Berlin
2008–2010 		Succeeded by
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