David Alan Miller
Encyclopedia
David Alan Miller is a prominent American
classical music
symphony orchestra conductor, and for the past several years, the conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra
.
area. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley
. He then earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from The Juilliard School. Miller was Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony
from 1982 to 1988. He was also a two-term conducting fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
.
In 1987, he was appointed as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
by Music Director Andre Previn
; he was later promoted to Associate Conductor in 1990 and held that position for two years. During his tenure with the orchestra, he conducted children's concert, "Green Umbrella" New Music Group concerts, and community concerts, along with regular programs at the Hollywood Bowl
. In the fall of 1987, Miller replaced Previn on only 36-hours notice during a week of regular Philharmonic subscription concerts when the Music Director fell ill.
Under his leadership, the ASO has frequently premiered new American
modern classical music.
Miller commissioned a violin concerto
from Kevin Beavers inspired by William Kennedy
's novel, Roscoe
. This piece, called Eyeball High, was conceived in 2004 and first performed on April 20, 2007, at Palace Theatre, Albany.
, the Oregon Symphony
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
orchestra, and, from 1999 to 2007, for the Minnesota Orchestra
's Casual Classics series. He has also returned to the Los Angeles Philharmonic
on occasion to conduct them during their summer season at the Hollywood Bowl
.
's Ditson Conductor's Award in 2003. This award is "the oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to American music, (and) was established in 1945 by the Alice M. Ditson Fund at Columbia. Past recipients include Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, JoAnn Falletta, Michael Tilson Thomas and James DePreist."
, and the Albany Times-Union
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
symphony orchestra conductor, and for the past several years, the conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra
Albany Symphony Orchestra
The Albany Symphony Orchestra is a professional symphony orchestra based in Albany, New York. The upcoming season will mark the orchestra's 78th....
.
Early career and education
Miller was raised in the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He then earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from The Juilliard School. Miller was Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony
New York Youth Symphony
The New York Youth Symphony is a tuition-free music organization for youth in New York City. Its programs include its flagship symphony orchestra, Chamber Music program, Jazz Band Classic, Apprentice Conducting, and Making Score. Its members range from 12 to 22 years of age...
from 1982 to 1988. He was also a two-term conducting fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute was a summer training program held in Los Angeles, California for conservatory aged orchestral instrumentalists and conductors...
.
In 1987, he was appointed as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
by Music Director Andre Previn
André Previn
André George Previn, KBE is an American pianist, conductor, and composer. He is considered one of the most versatile musicians in the world, and is the winner of four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. -Early Life:Previn was born in...
; he was later promoted to Associate Conductor in 1990 and held that position for two years. During his tenure with the orchestra, he conducted children's concert, "Green Umbrella" New Music Group concerts, and community concerts, along with regular programs at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
. In the fall of 1987, Miller replaced Previn on only 36-hours notice during a week of regular Philharmonic subscription concerts when the Music Director fell ill.
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Miller has been musical director and conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra (ASO) since 1992.Under his leadership, the ASO has frequently premiered new American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
modern classical music.
Miller commissioned a violin concerto
Violin concerto
A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin and instrumental ensemble, customarily orchestra. Such works have been written since the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up through the present day...
from Kevin Beavers inspired by William Kennedy
William Kennedy (author)
William Joseph Kennedy is an American writer and journalist born and raised in Albany, New York. Many of his novels feature the interaction of members of the fictional Irish-American Phelan family, and make use of incidents of Albany's history and the supernatural...
's novel, Roscoe
Roscoe (novel)
Roscoe is a novel by William Kennedy which was published in 2002, and depicts an aging politician who is a key behind-the-scenes player in Albany, New York's Democratic Party machine...
. This piece, called Eyeball High, was conceived in 2004 and first performed on April 20, 2007, at Palace Theatre, Albany.
Guest conducting slots
Miller is a frequent guest conductor for other orchestras, including Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, the Oregon Symphony
Oregon Symphony
The Oregon Symphony is an American orchestra based in Portland, Oregon. Founded as the Portland Symphony Society in 1896, it is the sixth oldest orchestra in the United States, and oldest in the Western United States...
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
orchestra, and, from 1999 to 2007, for the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
's Casual Classics series. He has also returned to the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
on occasion to conduct them during their summer season at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
.
Awards
Miller received Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's Ditson Conductor's Award in 2003. This award is "the oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to American music, (and) was established in 1945 by the Alice M. Ditson Fund at Columbia. Past recipients include Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, JoAnn Falletta, Michael Tilson Thomas and James DePreist."
Recordings
Miller has had many of his recordings with the ASO published as CD's. Many of Miller's recordings with the ASO are sold online.Reviews
Critics have generally given favorable reviews to Miller's performances. Some favorable reviews have been from MIT's The Tech, the Schenectady Daily GazetteDaily Gazette
The Daily Gazette, formerly The Schenectady Gazette, is an independently-owned daily newspaper based in Schenectady, New York. It debuted in 1812 and mainly covers the counties of Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Fulton, Schoharie, and Montgomery.In the last 10 years, The Gazette has...
, and the Albany Times-Union
Albany Times-Union
The Times Union is a major daily newspaper, serving the Capital Region of New York, United States. Although the newspaper focuses on Albany and its suburbs, it covers all parts of the four-county area, including the cities of Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs. It is owned by the Hearst...
.