  |
|
Our History2008 marks the orchestra's 61st anniversary. The orchestra was originally founded as the Denver Businessmen’s Orchestra by Dr. Antonia Brico in 1948. In honor of Dr. Brico, the orchestra changed its name to the Brico Symphony in 1968, a name still recognized in Denver’s music history. Following Dr. Brico’s retirement in 1986, the orchestra selected Julius Glaihengauz to be its second music director and changed its name to the Centennial Philharmonic. Dr. Horst Buchholz was selected as the orchestra's current music director and conductor in 1999, and in 2004 the orchestra became the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. About Our Conductor and Music Director Dr. Horst Buchholz has recently accepted a position as Canon for Music at Cleveland’s historic Trinity Cathedral and Conductor of the Trinity Chamber Orchestra. This season concludes his tenure with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, which he has been leading as Music Director since 1999. Previously, Buchholz served as Music Director at Denver’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and professor at St. John Vianney Seminary, as well as Associate Conductor with Opera Colorado and as Music Director of Denver's Young Artists Orchestra. He has won international acclaim as conductor, concert organist, scholar, and educator. Horst Buchholz received his early musical training in a boys choir in his native Germany and started conducting at age 16. When he was 21 years old, he had his Berlin Philharmonic debut as organ soloist, and shortly thereafter he founded the Berlin Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Buchholz holds two terminal degrees, one in Church Music from the University of Arts in Berlin, and one in Orchestral Conducting from Indiana University in Bloomington. His organ teachers were Heinz Lohmann, Peter Wackwitz, and Rudolf Heinemann. As an assistant with the Berlin Philharmonic Chorus he had the opportunity to work with and learn from such eminent maestros as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, and Herbert von Karajan. Horst Buchholz has been active as a conductor, organist, and lecturer in the United States, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and throughout Europe. He has performed on some of the most famous organs in the world. He was a guest conductor with the Boulder Philharmonic, the Colorado Symphony, the Sinfonia of Colorado, Central City Opera, the Akron Symphony, and other orchestras. He performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, as well as for the United Nations in Vienna. He appeared on German National Television, the Korean TV, National Public Radio, the American AFN, and the British BBC. In the summer of 2000 Dr. Buchholz had his conducting debut in Salzburg during the International Summer Festival and has returned to Salzburg annually as conductor and organist. From 2003 to 2008, Dr. Buchholz joined the Lamont School of Music of the
University of Denver as organ faculty and curator of the William K. Coors
organ. Currently, he is on the organ faculty at Cleveland State University. About Our RESIDENT ConductorDevin Patrick Hughes was recently appointed Music Director of the Niwot Timberline Symphony Orchestra and is currently pursuing an Artist’s Diploma at the Lamont School of Music in Denver, where he is the Assistant Conductor of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, the Denver Young Artist’s Orchestra and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra at the University of Denver. He also leads the Denver Contemporary Chamber Players, with whom he recently performed a fully staged version of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale with a libretto by Kurt Vonnegut. He will also be collaborating with the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver for a Music/Arts alive project in the fall. In Ithaca, New York he founded the Ithaca Chamber Players, was Music Director of the Ithaca Sinfonietta, and conducted Kulmusik, a contemporary chamber ensemble performing works of many living composers including Christopher Theofanidis, Jennifer Higdon, and John Harbison. While pursuing his Masters degree in orchestral conducting at Ithaca College he also conducted in the annual Cornell University production of the Messiah, and premiered In the Garden of Eden, a ballet by Naomi Williams, along with two new works by Jesse Clark: his Cello Concerto and his controversial work entitled Free Weight Fantastique. Devin was also Assistant Conductor of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra in Indiana, as well as Music Director of the Ball State University Summer Symphony, Conductor of the annual opera production and Associate Conductor of the East Central Indiana Youth Orchestra. He is originally from Springfield, Illinois and currently resides in Denver. About Our Board PresidentValerie Clausen has played second violin with the DPO since 2003 and been a member of its board of directors since 2007. Her previous non-profit leadership experience includes 5 years on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Yellowstone County and three years on the board of the Billings Symphony Orchestra, both in Montana. Valerie spent sixteen years in print and radio journalism, including three years as news host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered at Yellowstone Public Radio. |
Listen to the DPOUpcoming ConcertSunday, May 17, 2009 •7:00pm - King Center Email UpdatesJoin our email list to receive updates on upcoming concerts and happenings.
Join Our Mailing ListPrefer printed materials? We'll send information via good ol' U.S. Mail. Contact UsPhone: 303-836-7445 Denver Philharmonic Orchestra |
 |
|
