Ransom Wilson
Encyclopedia
Ransom Wilson is an American flutist and conductor. Studying at the Juilliard School
in New York City, he formed a close friendship with Jean-Pierre Rampal
. His other flute teachers have included Alain Marion
, Severino Gazzelloni, Julius Baker
, Christian Lardé, Philip Dunigan, and Arthur Lora.
These days, he is active in conducting, including the New York City Opera
, the Metropolitan Opera
, and he is also the founder and conductor of Solisti New York Orchestra. His conducting teachers include Roger Nierenberg, James Dixon
, Otto-Werner Mueller and Leonard Bernstein
. He is the former Director of Orchestras at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
, and on the faculty of the Yale School of Music
.
at the Juilliard School
, but in an interview he said that he didn't have a good relationship with him. Therefore, he transferred to Arthur Lora's class. Lora played Principal Flute at the Metropolitan Opera
, as well as Principal Flute in the NBC Symphony Orchestra
under Arturo Toscanini
.
as conductor, and since 2006 as Cover Conductor on numerous productions at the Metropolitan Opera.
he made statements critical of the school's administration. According to the Classical Voice of North Carolina, "A discordant note to the evening came in Wilson's parting words spoken before the last work was played. He said he was leaving the School of the Arts because of irreconcilable differences with the current administration." According to The Business Journal of the Greater Traid Area, "Despite an unusual outburst of public criticism from a high-profile faculty member, UNC-School of the Arts Chancellor John Mauceri appears to retain the confidence of key supporters in the Twin City’s business community.
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City, he formed a close friendship with Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
. His other flute teachers have included Alain Marion
Alain Marion
Alain Marion was a French flutist, and considered one of the world's best flute players of the late twentieth century.-Biography:...
, Severino Gazzelloni, Julius Baker
Julius Baker
Julius Baker was one of the foremost American orchestral flute players.He was well known as a teacher and served as a faculty member at the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Carnegie Mellon University...
, Christian Lardé, Philip Dunigan, and Arthur Lora.
These days, he is active in conducting, including the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
, the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, and he is also the founder and conductor of Solisti New York Orchestra. His conducting teachers include Roger Nierenberg, James Dixon
James Dixon
James Dixon was a United States Representative and Senator from Connecticut.-Biography:Born in Enfield, Connecticut, Dixon pursued preparatory studies, and graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1834, where he had been a charter member of The Kappa Alpha Society. He was...
, Otto-Werner Mueller and Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. He is the former Director of Orchestras at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
, and on the faculty of the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
.
Studies
Wilson studied under Julius BakerJulius Baker
Julius Baker was one of the foremost American orchestral flute players.He was well known as a teacher and served as a faculty member at the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Carnegie Mellon University...
at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, but in an interview he said that he didn't have a good relationship with him. Therefore, he transferred to Arthur Lora's class. Lora played Principal Flute at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, as well as Principal Flute in the NBC Symphony Orchestra
NBC Symphony Orchestra
The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo Toscanini...
under Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
.
Conducting
In recent years, Wilson has moved towards the operatic repertoire, appearing at the New York City OperaNew York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
as conductor, and since 2006 as Cover Conductor on numerous productions at the Metropolitan Opera.
Departure from UNCSA
On May 21, 2010, Wilson gave his final concert as conductor of the school's orchestra. During the performance and in a note published in the Winston-Salem JournalWinston-Salem Journal
The Winston-Salem Journal is a daily newspaper primarily serving the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and its county, Forsyth County, North Carolina. It also features coverage of Northwestern North Carolina and circulates as far west as Tennessee and north to Virginia.The paper is owned by...
he made statements critical of the school's administration. According to the Classical Voice of North Carolina, "A discordant note to the evening came in Wilson's parting words spoken before the last work was played. He said he was leaving the School of the Arts because of irreconcilable differences with the current administration." According to The Business Journal of the Greater Traid Area, "Despite an unusual outburst of public criticism from a high-profile faculty member, UNC-School of the Arts Chancellor John Mauceri appears to retain the confidence of key supporters in the Twin City’s business community.
External links
- http://www.ransomwilson.com/