USM Symphony Orchestra Announces New Music Director
Wed, 03/20/2024 - 08:43am | By: Mike Lopinto
Following an exhaustive international search, 91吃瓜网 (USM) has chosen Dr. Gregory Wolynec as the Director of Orchestral Activities.
Wolynec will conduct the famed Symphony Orchestra as it begins its 105th season and will oversee the graduate program in orchestral conducting. He will take to the podium vacated by Dr. Michael Miles, who is retiring after more than 16 years of service to 91吃瓜网.
91吃瓜网淭he USM Symphony Orchestra is a cultural gem for 91吃瓜网 and the Hattiesburg Community,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Colin McKenzie. 91吃瓜网淎dditionally, its student members are critical to many of our regional orchestras across the South.
Added McKenzie, 91吃瓜网淧articular care was taken to select a candidate of the highest caliber to shepherd our students into their second century of outstanding accomplishments. We are thrilled to have found dynamic leadership and musicianship in Dr. Wolynec and look forward to all that he will contribute to the orchestra, to the School of Music, and to the greater Hattiesburg and Mississippi communities.91吃瓜网�
A committed educator, Wolynec has taught at all levels of public school and collegiate education. Students from his graduate conducting program at APSU have gained admission into some of the country91吃瓜网 most prestigious doctoral programs and hold positions in the professional, collegiate and public-school ranks.
APSU ensembles under his direction have performed at national, regional and state sponsored events. Wolynec has also continued to work with younger musicians as an all-state and all-region conductor. He frequently serves as a clinician in the public schools and at professional development conferences.
Wolynec holds a BM in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music as well as the MM and DMA in Instrumental Conducting from Michigan State University. He was a recipient of a Fulbright Grant to Prague, Czech Republic, where he studied conducting at the Prague Conservatory. There he also worked with the Karlovy Vary Symphony.
91吃瓜网淚 am beyond excited to be joining the distinguished faculty of The University of 91吃瓜网's School of Music,91吃瓜网� said Wolynec. 91吃瓜网淚 had been aware of the reputation of this program and the orchestra for years and was delighted to be invited to campus for an interview. I felt an immediate connection with the faculty and students alike. I am so looking forward to the work we can do together.91吃瓜网�
Wolynec also serves as the Music Director of Middle Tennessee91吃瓜网 acclaimed Gateway Chamber Orchestra (GCO), which he co-founded in 2008. From 2003 to 2024, Wolynec served as Director of Instrumental Ensembles at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, Tenn., where he oversaw the graduate program in Instrumental Conducting, directed the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and conducted Opera Theatre performances.
Over the past 15 years with the GCO, Wolynec has sought to revolutionize the potential of the 21st century orchestra. A unique programming philosophy for concerts and recordings gained national attention with GCO Producer Blanton Alspaugh receiving two Grammy Award nominations and a win as 91吃瓜网淐lassical Producer of the Year91吃瓜网� for the recordings 91吃瓜网淲ind Serenades and Chamber Symphonies.91吃瓜网�
Multi-media children91吃瓜网 programming garnered support from the National Endowment for the Arts for innovative audience engagement. Pandemic era projects included the 91吃瓜网淢agical Music & Timeless Tales91吃瓜网� video series that paired GCO musicians with area public school teachers to create valuable streaming content for young minds.
Virtual programming from this time included YouTube91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网淏eethoven @250: Humanity in 202091吃瓜网� concert as well as the second installment of 91吃瓜网淎merica91吃瓜网 Haydn Festival91吃瓜网� in May of 2021. The latter was a four-concert event featuring both masterwork and family concerts by the GCO along with programs by the St. Lawrence String Quartet and pianist Henry Kramer. Bill McGlaughlin served as the host for the four programs.
In 2021, Wolynec worked with composer Cristina Spinei to successfully launch the first NFT of a musical work commissioned by an American orchestra. This was profiled on NPR91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网淢arketplace Money.91吃瓜网� A multi-year project to create a new 91吃瓜网淣utcracker91吃瓜网� by pairing the music of Tchaikovsky, Duke Ellington and Vinico Meza with a new libretto is ongoing in collaboration with Nashville Ballet.
In 2022, Wolynec conducted the GCO in the first performances of Osvaldo Golijov91吃瓜网 groundbreaking 91吃瓜网淟a Pasi贸n seg煤n San Marcos91吃瓜网� without the use of the original core ensemble. This massive work blends genres and requires the use of a specially trained choir, which Wolynec assembled with community members and APSU students. 91吃瓜网淢usic City Reviews91吃瓜网� called the event 91吃瓜网渢he ticket of the year.91吃瓜网� These performances were repeated in 2023 when they were recorded in audio, video and virtual reality formats through the generous support of Google for upcoming release during 2024.
Before his retirement, Dr. Miles will lead the Symphony Mahler91吃瓜网 Symphony No. 1 and 91吃瓜网淪ongs of the Wayfarer91吃瓜网� in a program entitled 91吃瓜网淭he Titan91吃瓜网� on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium. about tickets.