Daniel Alfred Wachs, M.M.

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. 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 recently completed his tenure as an Assistant Conductor of The National Orchestra of France under Kurt Masur. While in Paris, Mr. Wachs served as Assistant Conductor of the French première of Bernstein’s Candide at the Théâtre du Châtelet, a co-production with La Scala & The English National Opera, directed by Robert Carsen.
 
Newly appointed Music Director of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Wachs is also Director of Instrumental Studies & Conductor of University Orchestras at Chapman University Conservatory of Music.  In April 2008, he stepped in for Vladimir Spivakov at the Pacific Symphony and in February 2007, Mr. Wachs filled in for Valery Gergiev at the Rotterdam Philharmonic.  He has served as a juror for the 2007 ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Award in New York and as Assistant Conductor & Répétiteur for Cincinnati Opera during its 2007 Season. Additional engagements have recently included a recital with tenor William Burden, piano soloist with the Boca Raton Philharmonic, guest conductor of the Pacific Symphony as part of its Eighth American Composers Festival and guest soloist and conductor with Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Upcoming performances include a joint concert with the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, as well as performances of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte.
 
Equally comfortable on stage and in the pit, 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. In 2009-10, he will begin his fourth year as Music Director of Opera Chapman, having already conducted Britten’s Albert Herring, Puccini’s Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi, Pasatieri’s Signor Deluso & La Divina, and Mozart’s The Impresario. Mr. Wachs 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. 
 
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.
 
Educated in the United States, Europe and Israel, 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 & conducting from The Juilliard School. He is represented by William Reinert Associates, Inc.

More information on Daniel Alfred Wachs may be found at: www.danielalfredwachs.com