Chapman University professor invited to conduct in Salzburg and for NYC Ballet

Daniel Wachs, assistant professor, director of instrumental studies,
College of Performing Arts
, has been invited to conduct at two celebrated music houses in coming months, including for the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center.

In early November Wachs will conduct the world premiere of a work by internationally- renowned composer Toshio Hosokawa with the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg and the Salzburger Landesjugendorchester at the Festspielhaus, home of the famed
Salzburg Summer Festival
. Wachs will be in residence for two weeks as conductor for a project called
“2Orchestras,”
which features commissioned pieces that can be played both by the Mozarteum and youth orchestras.

The two-year-old “2Orchestras” project plans to commission several such works over the next few years. Last year’s piece by composer Kurt Schwertsik was performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center by the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra and the Orange County Youth Symphony, which Wachs conducts. Based on the success of that performance, which received sparkling reviews from
local music writers
, the Mozarteum invited Wachs to conduct this year’s program in Salzburg, for which Hosokawa composed
Dances imaginaire II
.

“It’s a terrific, extraordinary opportunity,” says Wachs.

In December Wachs will guest conduct The New York City Ballet’s performance of
The Nutcracker,
Dec. 18, 19, 21, at Lincoln Center. The NYCB visit is a return engagement for Wachs, who was artist in residence there in 2003-2004, following his graduation from The Juilliard School.

“The tradition of
The Nutcracker
, what we all take for granted in terms of what we see, actually started with the New York City Ballet and George Balanchine,” Wachs says. “It’s really just a thrill to be able to go back to the source and to conduct several performances at Lincoln Center of this holiday tradition.”

Wachs’ fans closer to home will still have opportunities to see him conduct at Chapman University this fall, including Nov. 20 when the Chapman Chamber Orchestra performs a concert in support of Daniel Pearl World Music Days. The Chamber Orchestra will also be among the groups featured at the Dec. 3-4 47th Annual Holiday Wassail Banquet & Concert.  And The Youth Symphony will perform its Fall Concert Dec. 5.