People from Ensembles
Orchestra Ensembles
Dr. David Harman, Musical Director and Conductor
David Harman continues to be in great demand both as a guest conductor
of professional orchestras and as a music educator at the university
and high school levels. Recent professional appearances include return
engagements with The Louisville Orchestra, The Cincinnati Symphony, The
Tucson Symphony, The Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra, The Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Opera Theater of Rochester,
and a special appearance with the Orchestra of the Spring Festival of
Contemporary Music in Ljubljana, Slovenia under the sponsorship of Arts
America. During 1994, Harman also served as guest conductor of The Shanghai
Conservatory Symphony (China) and The Jamaica Orchestra for Youth (JOY)
in Kingston, Jamaica. Future plans include return visits to China and
Jamaica as well as an invitation from the National Orchestra of Chile
in Santiago.
Dr. Harman currently holds the posts of Professor of Music and Director
of Orchestral Activities at the University
of Rochester River Campus, Conductor and Music Director of the Rochester
Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and the Music Director of the Penfield
Symphony. He came to Rochester from Louisville, KY where he conducted
the University
of Louisville Orchestra, Civic Orchestra, and Opera Theater Productions
for eight years and served as executive secretary of the Grawemeyer Award
for Music Composition. He has also held similar tenured positions at
the University
of Connecticut and Colorado
State University.
In addition to B.A. and M.A. degrees from California State
University at Sacramento, he was a scholarship student at the Paris
Conservatory (France) and the Aspen Music Festival, and earned a Doctor
of Musical Arts degree from The Eastman
School of the University
of Rochester in 1974 at age 25. Dr. Harman has also enjoyed an
active solo career as a clarinetist with three solo recordings (most
recently with pianist Anton Nel in a composition by Rochester's David Liptak),
recital appearances at Carnegie Recital Hall, London's Wigmore Hall
and Purcell Room as well as recorded broadcasts for the B.B.C., O.R.T.F., WGBH,
WQXR, and National Public Radio.
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Pia Liptak, URSO Concertmaster
Hailed by the press as "an extremely good interpreter of contemporary
music," and as a violinist "fully in control of her instrument," with "an
independent and inquiring intellect," Pia Liptak performs as a soloist
and chamber musician at concerts in Europe and the United States. Dr. Liptak
is currently the concertmaster of the University of Rochester Symphony
Orchestra and has also served as concertmaster of the Danish string ensemble
Den Fynske Sinfonietta. For several years, she was a member of the Odense
Symphony Orchestra. She holds diplomas in piano and violin from the Carl
Nielsen Academy in Odense, Denmark - her native country - and a Doctor
of Musical Arts degree in violin performance and literature from the Eastman
School of Music, Rochester, NY.
With pianist Sylvie Beaudette, she
forms the Liptak-Beaudette duo whose
series of programs, "Nordic Harmonies," features Danish, Canadian and
American music. The duo has received the Chapin grant in support of their
Canadian tour in 2005. Pia Liptak also collaborates with Japanese koto-player,
Ryuko Mizutani, and has recently recorded "Vista," a CD of contemporary
koto music. A new CD with music entirely for violin and koto is planned
for fall 2005. The pairing of the Japanese koto and the violin as a duo
is very recent and the Mizutani-Liptak Duo's pioneering and promoting efforts
have included commissioning and premiering of new works for the ensemble,
performances, recordings, radio broadcasts, and lecture presentations.
Pia Liptak's performance schedule has included concerts in Scandinavia,
Italy (Rome), Poland, Minnesota, San Francisco, and Rochester. In New
York, she has recently performed at the Eastman School of Music (Women
in Music Festival and the World Music Series), Elmira College,
the University of Rochester, the First Universalist Church (Washington
Square Series), St. Andrew's Church, The Hochstein School of Music
(with the radio broadcast: Live from Hochstein), and in New
Paltz (lecture at NYSTMA conference), New York City (theory and music
conference at New York University).
In addition to concertizing, Pia Liptak has a private teaching studio.
Prior to her relocation to the United States, she taught violin at the
Odense Music School and was the director of concerts and public relations
at the Carl Nielsen Academy of Music. She has received grants and honors
from the Danish Cultural Ministry and State Music Council, and was awarded
three month-long stays for research projects at the San Cataldo Institution
in Southern Italy, a center for Danish scientists and artists. She now
resides with her husband, composer David Liptak, and daughter Carena
in Rochester, NY.
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URSO Advisory Comittee
The Symphony Orchestra Advisory Committee is comprised of several elected
orchestra members (usually three to four students and three community
members) and the concertmaster as an ex officio member. Re-elections
are held each year. Committee members assist and advise the Music Director
in the ongoing operation of the ensemble in areas such as concerts and
run-outs, touring, advertising and publicity, repertoire selection, conflict
resolution, and attendance.
Orchestra Staff
David Harman, Music Director
Josef Hanson,
River Campus Concert Manager
