Ward Stare
Encyclopedia
Ward Stare is an American conductor
. He is currently the Resident Conductor
of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
– a position created for him in the fall of 2008 by Music Director David Robertson
– and concurrently acts as Music Director
of the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
.
. Stare was trained as a trombonist at the Juilliard School
in Manhattan
. At the age of 18, he was appointed principal trombonist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
and has performed as an orchestral musician with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
and the New York Philharmonic
, among others.
at the Blossom Music Center
. Stare also made appearances with the Memphis Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra
- both in Russia
and on the orchestra's North American tour - as well as a special performance with the Bangkok
Symphony Orchestra as part of the Orchestra's
"Great Artists of the World" series celebrating the 80th birthday of the King of Thailand.
Stare spent the 2007 and 2008 season as a League of American Orchestras
Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, and conducted concerts on the orchestra's Toyota Symphonies for Youth Series. In the fall of 2008, Stare served as assistant conductor
to Sir Andrew Davis at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
for their new production of Alban Berg's Lulu
.
In 2009, Stare made his debut with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
, as second conductor
in Ives' Symphony No. 4, as well as his subscription debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
.
In April 2009, Stare made his Carnegie Hall
debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
. Stare returned in June 2010, leading the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
in their New York City
debut at the Riverside Church
.
The 2010 and 2011 season Stare's returned to the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
as guest conductor
, as well as his European operatic debut at the Norwegian Opera
in Oslo
, with a production of Benjamin Britten's
The Rape of Lucretia.
In November of 2011 Stare was honored with Musician of the Month by Musical America
.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He is currently the Resident Conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
– a position created for him in the fall of 2008 by Music Director David Robertson
David Robertson (conductor)
David Eric Robertson is an American conductor. He is currently the music director of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.-Early life:...
– and concurrently acts as Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
of the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra is an American orchestra for musicians between the ages of 12 and 22, and is the young people's version of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra . The SLSYO performs several concerts a year at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis, Missouri.The orchestra was...
.
Early life
Stare was born in raised in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Stare was trained as a trombonist 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...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. At the age of 18, he was appointed principal trombonist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
and has performed as an orchestral musician with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago 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...
and the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, among others.
Career
In August 2007, Stare made his debut with the Cleveland OrchestraCleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
at the Blossom Music Center
Blossom Music Center
Blossom Music Center is an amphitheatre located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The pavilion seats 5,700 people, with space for about 13,500 more on the lawn. It is the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra, which performs its annual Blossom Festival there. The venue is also host to a full summer...
. Stare also made appearances with the Memphis Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra
Moscow Chamber Orchestra
The Moscow Chamber Orchestra is a Chamber Orchestra based in Moscow, Russia, and assigned to the Moscow Philharmonia, a State-run enterprise, formerly under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and now, Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation.-Founding, 1955 :Rudolf Barshai was a virtuoso...
- both in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and on the orchestra's North American tour - as well as a special performance with the Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
Symphony Orchestra as part of the Orchestra's
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
"Great Artists of the World" series celebrating the 80th birthday of the King of Thailand.
Stare spent the 2007 and 2008 season as a League of American Orchestras
League of American Orchestras
The League of American Orchestras, known until Fall 2007 as the American Symphony Orchestra League , is an association of U.S. and Canadian orchestras. Over 950 orchestras are members, including youth, community, and professional orchestras....
Fellow with 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...
, and conducted concerts on the orchestra's Toyota Symphonies for Youth Series. In the fall of 2008, Stare served as assistant conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
to Sir Andrew Davis at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
for their new production of Alban Berg's Lulu
Lulu (opera)
Lulu is an opera by the composer Alban Berg. The libretto was adapted by Berg himself from Frank Wedekind's plays Erdgeist and Die Büchse der Pandora .-Composition history:...
.
In 2009, Stare made his debut with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, as second conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
in Ives' Symphony No. 4, as well as his subscription debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
.
In April 2009, Stare made his Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
. Stare returned in June 2010, leading the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra is an American orchestra for musicians between the ages of 12 and 22, and is the young people's version of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra . The SLSYO performs several concerts a year at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis, Missouri.The orchestra was...
in their New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
debut at the Riverside Church
Riverside Church
The Riverside Church in the City of New York is an interdenominational church in New York City, famous for its elaborate Neo-Gothic architecture—which includes the world's largest tuned carillon bell...
.
The 2010 and 2011 season Stare's returned to the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
as guest conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, as well as his European operatic debut at the Norwegian Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, with a production of Benjamin Britten's
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
The Rape of Lucretia.
Personal life
Stare currently resides in St. Louis Missouri in the Washington Avenue Loft District.Honors and awards
Stare was the recipient of both the Robert J. Harth Conductor Prize in 2006 and the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2007 at the Aspen Music Festival.In November of 2011 Stare was honored with Musician of the Month by Musical America
Musical America
Musical America is the oldest American magazine on classical music. Presently it is a website with a weekly online magazine. It is currently published by UBM Global Trade.-History:...
.