Mannes College and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Form Educational Partnership
Mannes College The New School for Music has launched an exclusive partnership with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), to give up-and-coming conductors professional experience with a leading American orchestra. Student Conductors-in-Residence from Mannes College will serve as cover conductors for the Philharmonic, as well as receive exposure to real-world experience in the artistic decisions and day-to-day management of a top orchestra. For the BPO and Mannes this partnership represents an important evolution in the curriculum for training conductors.
The Student Conductors-in-Residence for the 2012-2013 academic year are Taeyoung Lee and Nimrod Pfeffer, both studying toward Master of Music degrees in orchestral conducting. Lee and Pfeffer will work directly with the BPOâs Music Director (and Mannes alumna) JoAnn Falletta throughout the academic year, in addition to completing their coursework at Mannes.
“This exciting partnership with the BPO exemplifies Mannesâs commitment to building a bridge between artistic excellence and professional achievement,” said Mannes College Dean Richard Kessler. “By applying New School founder John Deweyâs philosophy of âlearning by doing,â our graduate-level student conductors will gain the unique skills, knowledge, and artistic understanding that can only be learned in the field. What is more, we are thrilled to be working closely with our alumna JoAnn Falletta, of whom we have always been deeply proud.”
“We feel strongly here at the BPO about our role to help advance the careers of young musicians and our partnership with Mannes represents a major breakthrough,” said Falletta. “The young conductors of Mannes will have an outstanding opportunity to work directly with our conductors, staff and musicians to gain the type of real world experience that will definitely make a difference in their careers.”