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Currently in his seventeenth season as Music Director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, NEAL GITTLEMAN enjoys a career and reputation of international dimensions.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Neal Gittleman graduated from Yale University in 1975. He continued his musical studies with the eminent teachers Nadia Boulanger and Annette Dieudonné in Paris, Hugh Ross at the Manhattan School of Music and Charles Bruck at both the Pierre Monteux Domaine School and the Hartt School of Music, where he was the recipient of the Karl Böhm Fellowship. In 1984, he was the Second Prize Winner of Geneva's Ernest Ansermet International Conducting Competition, and, two years later, he was awarded Third Prize at the Leopold Stokowski Conducting Competition in New York City. In 1989, he was selected for the American Conductors Program at the American Symphony Orchestra League's annual conference in San Francisco.
Neal Gittleman's conducting career began in 1981 as Assistant Conductor of the Hartt Symphony Orchestra and the Hartt Opera Theater. Subsequently, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra (under the Exxon/Arts Endowment Conductors Program) and as Associate Conductor of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. He was also the distinguished Resident Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for three seasons, preceded by six years of service as its Associate Conductor. For four seasons, starting in 1998, Mr. Gittleman led an annual three-concert series of Classical Connections with The Phoenix Symphony, and, for five seasons - from 2000 through 2005, he led the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s series of "Discovery Concerts." As guest conductor, he has appeared with numerous orchestras, including l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Alabama, Chicago, Indianapolis, Oregon, New Jersey, Phoenix, Saint Louis, San Antonio, San Francisco and Seattle symphonies, the Minnesota, Philadelphia and National Repertory orchestras and the Buffalo and Rochester philharmonic orchestras as well as the ensembles of Anchorage, Bangor, Baton Rouge, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, El Paso, Eugene, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Knoxville, New Haven, Omaha, San Jose, Springfield and Chicago's Grant Park and Oregon's Britt Music Festivals. He has also conducted Canada's Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra London, México City’s Orquesta Filamónica de la Ciudad de México, UNAM Philharmonic and Orquesta Cámara Bellas Artes, Bosnia’s Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and Germany's Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and led performances of Handel's Messiah in Tokyo and Osaka.
At home in the opera pit as well as on the concert stage, Neal Gittleman has conducted for the Hartt Opera Theater, Syracuse Opera Company, Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre and Dayton’s Human Race Theatre Company. During the 1997-98 season, he made an acclaimed debut with the Dayton Opera, conducting Gounod's Faust, followed, in subsequent seasons, by productions of Bizet’s Carmen, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Adamo’s Little Women, Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. He has also led performances of the Milwaukee Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Chicago City Ballet, Ballet Arizona and Theatre Ballet of Canada.
As Music Director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Neal Gittleman regularly conducts classical, Pops, educational and summer concerts. In addition, he leads the orchestra's nationally known "Classical Connections," a popular and innovative series offering audiences a "behind-the-scenes" look at masterpieces of the symphonic repertoire. His first CD with the DPO - "Tomas Svoboda - Piano Concertos" - with the composer soloist in the First Concerto and Norman Krieger soloist in the Second - was released in the summer of 2001. This was quickly followed by "Gershwin in Prague," with performances of Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F with the Prague National Symphony Orchestra, again with Norman Krieger as soloist. Both albums are available on the Artisie 4 Recordings label. In 2004, Albany Records released "A Celebration of Flight," comprised of new scores by William Bolcom, Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Michael Schelle and Steven Winteregg. His most recent recording is a pairing of William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 ("Afro-American") and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6.
Neal Gittleman and his wife, Lisa Fry, make their home in Dayton.
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"For Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Neal Gittleman, it was a dream realized. For Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra management, it was a financial and programming gamble that paid off beyond their wildest hopes. Leonard Bernstein’s MASS was a flat-out hit in every sense. About 4500 people witness both performances. They have the vision of an inspired composer, a conductor whose life was influenced profoundly by that composer, a huge number of talented musicians, singers and dancers, and an orchestra management to thank."
DAYTON CITY PAPER
"Concluding the eventing, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919) showed off not only the Hall [Schuster Performing Arts Center], but also what this orchestra could do. Now in his eighth season, Gittleman has brought the Dayton Philharmonic to a new level. His captured the Firebird's magical sweep while illuminating details with a sure hand, and his musicians responded with a high degree of precision."
THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER
"The orchestra performed with inspired insight, led by Gittleman's sympathetic reading of the Brahms score."
DAYTON DAILY NEWS
"The musicians gave the work the needed brilliance under Gittleman, whose direction clearly showed his expertise with Copland"
AUGSBURGER ALLGEMEINE
"But most striking was the silken, refined sound Mr. Gittleman elicited from the strings. He chose tempos that propelled the music and aided the playing of his musicians. The freedom of expression that resulted allowed the Dvorak's [Symphony #9] lyricism to sing. The finale was taut with palpable energy. Mr. Gittleman galvanized his musicians to a stunning finish."
THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER
"Neal Gittleman is still an effective leader. He enters into the spirit of every piece he conducts; it all seems to matter to him, and nothing is mere routine. He cares about the orchestra and manages to make the audience feel that he cares about them too, and hopes that the music reaches them in all its power and beauty."
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE
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9/11/2011 (7pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
U.S. AIR FORCE BAND OF FLIGHT
National Museum of the USAF Wright-Patterson AFB
9/22/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Menotti: Lewisohn Stadium Fanfare
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto #2
soloist: Yakov Kasman, pianist
Shostakovich: Symphony #5
9/23/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Classical Connections: "Shostakovich: Loyalist or Dissident?"
Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Shostakovich: Symphony #5
9/24/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Menotti: Lewisohn Stadium Fanfare
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto #2
soloist: Yakov Kasman, pianist
Shostakovich: Symphony #5
10/1/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Gala: "Dance to the Music"
with Bob Gray Orchestra
10/13/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Sierra: Alegría
Schubert: Symphony #8
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (excerpts)
with Bruce Cromer, Human Race Theatre Company
10/14/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Classical Connections: "Prokofiev & Shakespeare"
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (excerpts)
10/15/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Sierra: Alegría
Schubert: Symphony #8
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (excerpts)
with Bruce Cromer, Human Race Theatre Company
10/29/2011 (3pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Family Concert: "PhilharMonster"
10/29/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Family Concert: "PhilharMonster"
Prokofiev: Peter & the Wolf
soloist: Niki Dakota, narrator
Waxman: The Bride of Frankenstein
11/4/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
11/5/2011 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Pops: "The Wonder of Song"
with Lynda Carter, vocalist
11/11/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
with Daniel Rodriguez, vocalist
11/12/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Rockin’ Orchestra: "Three Dog Night"
11/13/2011 (3pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Dayton Masonic Center
J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite #1
Beethoven: Triple Concerto
soloists: Jessica Hung, violinist
Andra Lunde Padrichelli, cellist
Joshua Nemith, pianist
11/18/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
11/19/2011 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus (overture)
Bolcom: Prometheus
soloist: Jeffrey Biegel, pianist
Liszt: Prometheus
Beethoven: Symphony #8
12/2/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
12/3/2011 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Pops: "Radio Holly Days"
with 5 by Design
12/11/2011 (4pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Händel: Messiah
soloists: Megan Bell, soprano
Julia Bentley, mezzo-soprano
Matt Morgan, tenor
Curtis Streetman, bass
with Dayton Philharmonic Chamber Choir
12/31/2011 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
New Year’s Eve Concert: "Paris to Vienna"
1/6/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
1/7/2012 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Debussy: Prèlude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Sung: Rockwell Reflections
Brahms: Piano Concerto #1
soloist: William Wolfram
1/22/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Beethoven: Symphony #4
Brahms: Double Concerto
soloists: Kirstin Greenlaw, violinist
Christina Coletta, cellist
2/1/2012 (9am&12:30pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
SPARK Concert: "Music & Family"
2/1/2012 (10&11:30am) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
SPARK Concert: "Musical Tales"
2/2/2012 (9&10:30am;12:30pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
SPARK Concert: "Musical Mysteries"
2/17/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
2/18/2012 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Pops: "Oz with Orchestra"
Arlen: The Wizard of Oz
2/19/2012 (3pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Dayton Masonic Center
Haydn: La fedeltà premiata (overture)
Mozart: Flute & Harp Concerto
soloists: Becky Andres, flutist
Leslie Stratton-Norris, harpist
Beethoven: Symphony #2
3/1/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Beethoven: Symphony #6
3/2/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Classical Connections: "Bartók: a Mysterious Masterpiece"
Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances
Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
3/3/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Beethoven: Symphony #6
3/14/2010 (10&11:30am) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Young People’s Concert: "Kaleidescope: Around America"
Gould: American Salute
Copland: Billy the Kid (suite)
3/23/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
3/24/2012 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Haydn
Persichetti: The Hollow Men
soloists: Alan Siebert, trumpeter
, reciter
Donizetti: English Horn Concertino
soloist: Robyn Costa
Mendelssohn: Symphony #4
4/12/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Orchestra
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto #2
soloist: Jessica Hung
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #6
4/13/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Classical Connections: "Tchaikovsky: Last Testament Revisited"
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Waltz of the Flowers)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #6
4/29/2012 (3pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Family Concert: "Pirates of the Philharmonic"
5/11/2012 (8pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA & CHORUS
5/12/2012 (8pm) Mead Theatre, Schuster Performing Arts Center
Mahler: Symphony #2
soloists: Ilana Davidson, soprano
Susan Platts, mezzo-soprano
5/27/2012 (5pm) DAYTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Carillon Historical Park
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