ORANGE, Calif., Nov. 20, 2008 – The Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra – OC’s Official Youth Symphony and one of the county’s oldest continuing arts organizations – will kick off its 39th season with a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, December 7 in Chapman University’s Memorial Hall, under the baton of a new music director and conductor. Daniel Alfred Wachs, Chapman University’s music director and director of instrumental studies, will step onto the podium and assume the mantle held for 37 years by John Koshak, who retired from the organization last spring.


In a family-friendly program that will appeal to all ages, the acclaimed youth orchestra will investigate “The Case of the Missing Pipe” (as in organ pipe), performing Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (also known as the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey”), Franck’s Symphony in D minor, Saint-Saens’ Symphony No. 3 (“Organ”), Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Admission: $10 general public, $5 students and seniors. Information: 714-997-6871 or www.ocyso.org.


ABOUT DANIEL ALFRED WACHS:
Dynamic conductor and pianist Daniel Alfred Wachs is increasingly recognized as one of the few musicians of his generation successfully balancing the demands of a busy conducting and solo career. Recently, his performance with the Minnesota Orchestra “proved a revelation, delivering a technically impeccable, emotionally powerful performance of two Mozart piano concertos and a pair of solo works…” (St. Paul Pioneer Press).

Mr. Wachs serves as an Assistant Conductor of the National Orchestra of France in Paris under Kurt Masur. Concurrently, he is Music Director and Director of Instrumental Studies at the Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, and newly appointed Music Director of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Wachs’ recent engagements include Assistant Conductor of the French premiere of Bernstein’s Candide at the Théâtre du Châtelet (a co-production with La Scala & ENO) and as Music Director of Albert Herring with Opera Chapman. He served as a juror for the 2007 ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Award in New York and as Assistant Conductor and Repetiteur for Cincinnati Opera during its 2007 Season. In February 2007, Mr. Wachs filled in for Valery Gergiev at the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and in April 2008, he stepped in for Vladimir Spivakov at Orange County’s Pacific Symphony.

As Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä, Mr. Wachs’ tenure included a semi-staged performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors (with the Minnesota Opera Chorus and James Sewell Ballet Company), as host and conductor of an evening of Mozart symphonies, and various pops presentations.

During the 2004-05 season, Mr. Wachs held the position of Artist in Residence at New York City Ballet, leading performances during the company’s Balanchine Centennial as well as during the 50th Anniversary of The Nutcracker. He has guest conducted such orchestras as the Auckland Philharmonia of New Zealand, The Fort Worth Symphony, the Florida West Coast Symphony, and the National Symphony (as part of the National Conducting Institute). As a soloist, he has performed in such venues as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Salle Padarewski in Lausanne, and at such festivals as Aspen, Music Academy of the West, Tanglewood and Verbier.

Born in 1976 and raised and educated in the United States, Israel and Europe, Mr. Wachs was auditioned by Zubin Mehta at the age of eight and began studies with Enrique Barenboim. He subsequently pursued studies at the Zürich Academy of Music and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr. Wachs holds a bachelor’s degree in piano from the Curtis Institute of Music and graduate degrees in piano and conducting from The Juilliard School. He is represented by William Reinert Associates, Inc.


ABOUT THE ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
The Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, presenting its 39th season, is the Official Youth Orchestra of Orange County. Conducted by newly appointed Music Director Daniel Alfred Wachs, OCYSO provides the highest level of pre-professional orchestral training for young musicians in Southern California.

OCYSO’s mission, to introduce great music into the lives of young people, is fulfilled in part through its highly acclaimed “Concerts for Fifth Graders,” in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. This series, presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, has provided music education for more than 500,000 students. Additionally, OCYSO presents an annual concert series in historic Memorial Hall at Chapman University.

During its long and distinguished history, OCYSO has performed at major music conferences throughout the United States and has toured Europe and Asia. Performances in Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, Japan and at the United Nations and Carnegie Hall have been lauded by critics and audiences alike.

Building on the tradition of excellence established by John Koshak during his 37-year tenure, the orchestra’s new music director, Daniel Alfred Wachs, is poised to lead OCYSO into a new era.


OCYSO Website: www.ocyso.org
Daniel Alfred Wachs' website: www.danielalfredwachs.com
###