Next up is a Repertoire Report from Michael Bohnert Wheatley. Michael was a bright undergraduate violin student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music when I was finishing grad school there. It was no surprise to see he was making his way in the world as a conductor when I came across him again a couple of years ago. Michael is working with one community orchestra and one regional orchestra, doing the kind of nuts-and-bolts career building that it takes to be a real maestro. His list has lots of good core-repertoire pieces that groups like those need, like the Elgar Enigma Variaitons and Tchaik 5, but he’s also managing some commissions and rarities. Here’s some biographical info from the 7HS website and his 2010 Repertoire Report.
Michael Bohnert Wheatley
Now in his fifth season as Music Director of the Seven Hills Sinfonietta in Cincinnati, OH, Maestro Wheatley is quickly establishing a reputation as a builder of orchestras. Working closely during his tenure with a very dedicated and passionate board, the orchestra has increased significantly in size, relocated to an expansive new concert venue, established new relationships with grant-giving organizations, and has greatly expanded its orchestral library. With each season, he has led this orchestra to perform ever more substantial and challenging works of the orchestral repertoire. This year, they are celebrating their 36th season.
Maestro Wheatley’s conducting teachers have included Christopher Zimmerman, Vassily Sinaisky, Edward Benyas, and Gerhard Samuel. He is an alumnus of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Hancock, Maine, and Peter the Great Music Academy, in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Active as a conductor, violinist, and classical music educator, he has collaborated with scores of professional artists, including soprano Barbara Paver, tenor Thomas Baresel, violinist and pedagogue Kurt Sassmannshaus, cellist William Grubb, and composers Marjan Mozetich, Amy Scuria, and Philip Koplow. He regularly serves as a judge at music competitions throughout the Midwest and frequently works with youth orchestras.
In addition to his post here in Cincinnati, he was recently appointed the Associate Conductor of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, where he will conduct in 6 concerts this season, including regular educational outreach concerts for students of all ages. He has been a guest conductor on three continents, most recently in Russia and the Ukraine. In early 2008, at the invitation of Vassily Sinaisky, he assisted with the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, UK. Guest engagements this year include a debut with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in December.
Mr. Wheatley has recorded on the Centaur and Claremont record labels.
Follow our music director on Facebook, Twitter, or his homepage.
Almost all of these were led with either the Southern Illinois Symphony (Assoc. Conductor), or the Seven Hills Sinfonietta (Music Director).
2010 Repertoire List
- Bizet, Quintet, from Carmen
- Bizet, Votre Toast, from Carmen
- Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1
- Debussy, Danse Sacree et Profane
- Dvorak, Symphony, No. 8
- Elgar, Enigma Variations
- Griffes, Poem for Flute and Orchestra
- Handel, Music for the Royal Fireworks
- Koplow, “As if a swan sang…” (world premiere) <– this was commission by myself and the Seven Hills Sinfonietta.
- Liebergen, African Noel
- Mahler, Adagietto from Symph. No. 5
- Mendelssohn, Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
- Mozart, La ci Darem la Mano from Don Giovanni
- Nielsen, Clarinet Concerto
- Offenbach, Barcarolle, from Les Contes D’Hoffmann
- Puccini, Chi e la… si sente meglio, from La Boheme
- Puccini, Che gelida manina, from La Boheme
- Puccini, Si, mi chiamano mimi, from La Boheme
- Puccini, O soave fanciulla, from La Boheme
- Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 2
- Respighi, Pines of Rome
- Saint-Saens, Bacchanale, from Sampson et Delilah
- Schumann, Symphony No. 4
- Sibelius, Karelia Overture
- Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker (complete ballet)
- Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5
- Vivaldi, Flute Concerto “La Notte”
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