Hailed as a “young titan” by the Montreal Gazette after conducting the Montreal Symphony in Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Schoenberg’s Erwartung, Gregory Vajda has fast become one of the most sought-after conductors on the international scene. After completing his tenure as assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2005, Vajda took over as resident conductor of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2005-06 season. Prior to his position in Milwaukee, he served as founder and artistic advisor of the Valley of the Arts Summer Festival in Hungary and permanent guest conductor of the Hungarian State Opera (1998-2003).
Since then his career has reached new heights. A regular guest at major summer festivals on both sides of the Atlantic, he has debuted with the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera Chorus at the Salzburg Festival and appeared at the Mostly Mozart Festival, Chicago's Grant Park Festival, Lanaudière Festival, Round Top Festival in Texas, Woodstock Mozart Festival, as well as the festivals of Avignon and Strassbourg in France.
Making a mark as a guest conductor of choice in his adopted country, Vajda has led such orchestras as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the symphonies of San Antonio, Honolulu, Charlotte, Santa Rosa, Louisville, Omaha, and Silicon Valley. Equally in demand in Canada, he has appeared with the Montreal Symphony, Toronto Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, and Winnipeg Symphony.
Vajda has also enjoyed much success in the orchestra pit of the Atlanta Opera, Montreal Opera, and the Hungarian State Opera. In Europe he has worked with the Ensemble Intercotemporain, Klangforum Wien, Budapest Symphony, and Hungarian Radio Orchestra to great acclaim.
Born in Budapest the son of renowned soprano Veronika Kincses, Gregory Vajda studied conducting at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, and was a pupil of well-known composer and conductor, Peter Eötvös. He is also an accomplished clarinetist and composer.
Go to Gregory's Website |
Ryan Murray is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the top choral conductors in northern California. He joined Music in the Mountains in 2008 as Conductor and has generated rave reviews from audiences and singers. Murray is also the Principal Conductor of the Townsend Opera Players in Modesto, which has seen significant growth since he joined the organization.
Recently Murray added two more prestigious appointments to his professional calendar. He taught bassoon at Sacramento State during 2010-11, and he was retained as Faculty Conductor by the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute, a nationally acclaimed, intensive summer program for pre-professional opera singers. In this position he works with conductors and voice teachers who have experience at top opera companies throughout California as well as the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.
Murray is also the Director of Vocal Activities with the Vocal and Instrumental Teaching Academy (VITA) in Sacramento. He previously served as the Assistant Director of Vocal Activities for the Academy of All Hallows orchestra and chorus in Sacramento.
Ryan is a summa cum laude graduate of California State University, Sacramento, with degrees in voice performance and bassoon. While completing his studies at CSUS, he served as assistant conductor of the orchestra and opera programs and performed as guest soloist. |
