Past Conductors
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2016 Conductor Search
In 2016 NCCO embarked on a year long journey to recruit and select a new conductor/artist director. With revised mission, vision and values statements, a committee of dedicated NCCO members re-wrote the job description, posted the job announcement and received 12 applications from local, far and wide including candidates from Hong Kong, India, North Carolina, Michigan, Alabama, New York and Virginia. Using selection guidelines we developed based on NCCO's needs, the committee narrowed the field to five who came out for a one night conducting-interview. From those we chose three to lead the orchestra for one session guest engagement. Our final selection process included orchestra and audience feedback.
Selecting our new conductor was not an easy task and we would like to thank Rick LaRue and John Murton for their time, talents and guidance during our 2017 conductor search.
In 2016 NCCO embarked on a year long journey to recruit and select a new conductor/artist director. With revised mission, vision and values statements, a committee of dedicated NCCO members re-wrote the job description, posted the job announcement and received 12 applications from local, far and wide including candidates from Hong Kong, India, North Carolina, Michigan, Alabama, New York and Virginia. Using selection guidelines we developed based on NCCO's needs, the committee narrowed the field to five who came out for a one night conducting-interview. From those we chose three to lead the orchestra for one session guest engagement. Our final selection process included orchestra and audience feedback.
Selecting our new conductor was not an easy task and we would like to thank Rick LaRue and John Murton for their time, talents and guidance during our 2017 conductor search.
John Murton -March - May 2017
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A graduate of Magdalen College, University of Oxford, and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, John Murton is an orchestral conductor, currently based in Washington D.C. Born and raised in London, U.K., his early musical education included extensive performance as a trumpeter and singer, culminating in a prestigious choral scholarship with the world-renowned Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. Whilst at Oxford he developed his passion for conducting, leading numerous opera productions and orchestral concerts.
In November 2010 John guest conducted the Telford Orchestra and was subsequently invited to become the orchestra’s permanent conductor. During his tenure he devised a number of innovative concerts, as well as commissioning works from young composers, and leading events that marked the orchestra's 150th anniversary.
He has led productions of Viktor Ullmann's 1943 chamber opera The Emperor of Atlantis as part of London's Grimeborn Festival at the Arcola Theatre, and of Llywelyn Ap Myrddin’s opera The Crocodile as part of the Tête à Tête opera festival at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.
John relocated to the United States in 2014 to study at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music with Mark Gibson. Alongside performances with CCM's orchestras, he served as Assistant Conductor on the 2016 mainstage production of The Cunning Little Vixen. John is an Allentown Symphony Orchestra Conducting Fellow for the 2016-2017 Season.
In November 2010 John guest conducted the Telford Orchestra and was subsequently invited to become the orchestra’s permanent conductor. During his tenure he devised a number of innovative concerts, as well as commissioning works from young composers, and leading events that marked the orchestra's 150th anniversary.
He has led productions of Viktor Ullmann's 1943 chamber opera The Emperor of Atlantis as part of London's Grimeborn Festival at the Arcola Theatre, and of Llywelyn Ap Myrddin’s opera The Crocodile as part of the Tête à Tête opera festival at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.
John relocated to the United States in 2014 to study at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music with Mark Gibson. Alongside performances with CCM's orchestras, he served as Assistant Conductor on the 2016 mainstage production of The Cunning Little Vixen. John is an Allentown Symphony Orchestra Conducting Fellow for the 2016-2017 Season.
Michael Tyree - January - March 2017
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See above for biographical information for Mr. Tyree.
Rick LaRue - September - November 2016
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Rick LaRue is a violin graduate of the University of Miami, School of Music and has performed with fiddle-legend Vassar Clements, jazz-great Ira Sullivan, former Dizzy Gillespie bassist Chris White, and Grammy Award winning country rock band, The Mavericks. He has performed with the Miami Symphony, and recorded with the Florida International University Jazz Band, the Lynchburg Symphony, and the celtic-rock band, The Volunteers. He has composed, arranged and recorded numerous classical and jazz pieces, and is a Northern Piedmont Regional Fiddle Contest prizewinner.
Much of Mr. LaRue's career has been directing and teaching orchestras and string jazz ensemble, guitar, improvisation, fiddling and music theory in public and private schools in Florida, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. Mr. LaRue currently performs with the Lynchburg Symphony, The LaRue Jazz Quintet, The LaRue/Donahue Classical Duo, The LaRue/Richarson Jazz Band and Classical Duo, The Front Porch Katz, and the Crosswalk Praise Band and Orchestra at Crozet United Methodist Church.
Much of Mr. LaRue's career has been directing and teaching orchestras and string jazz ensemble, guitar, improvisation, fiddling and music theory in public and private schools in Florida, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. Mr. LaRue currently performs with the Lynchburg Symphony, The LaRue Jazz Quintet, The LaRue/Donahue Classical Duo, The LaRue/Richarson Jazz Band and Classical Duo, The Front Porch Katz, and the Crosswalk Praise Band and Orchestra at Crozet United Methodist Church.
Philip Clark - January 2014-May 2016
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NCCO performed under the baton of conductor, composer, Philip Clark from its launch in January 2014 until May 2016. Mr. Clark was a graduate from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where his teachers included Nannie Jamieson, Peter Schidlof, Max Rostal, the Amadeus Quartet, William Pleeth and Emanuel Hurwitz and where he was a Solo/Chamber Music Prizewinner.
Throughout his career he has performed with many distinguished ensembles in London, Scotland, and Richmond and as a soloist and string quartet player, he has played in more than thirty countries including performing for Royal Family at Windsor Castle for State Visits and before the Queen of Holland. Mr. Clark was violist and professor at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, University of Lancaster, England, University of Auckland in New Zealand, Kent State, in Ohio and Ithaca College, New York.
Throughout his career he has performed with many distinguished ensembles in London, Scotland, and Richmond and as a soloist and string quartet player, he has played in more than thirty countries including performing for Royal Family at Windsor Castle for State Visits and before the Queen of Holland. Mr. Clark was violist and professor at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, University of Lancaster, England, University of Auckland in New Zealand, Kent State, in Ohio and Ithaca College, New York.