The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Names Gerald Steichen as Music Director
The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Gerald Steichen as its Music Director effective July 1, 2008. Maestro Steichen was one of the “Four Fabulous Finalists” who auditioned for the position during the 2007-08 season.

With a career that ranges from symphony to opera, Broadway to chamber music, Gerald Steichen has
established himself as one of America‘s most versatile young conductors.

Currently Associate Conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Steichen has guest conducted the Utah Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Boston Pops Orchestra, Hartford Symphony, and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony. As a New York City Opera staff conductor, he has performed at the
New York State Theater and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. His Broadway credits include both conducting Cats and performing on stage as a pianist in Master Class.

Maestro Steichen has had a stellar career as a conductor of symphony, opera and pops. He has guest conducted the Utah Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Boston Pops Orchestra, Hartford Symphony, Oklahoma City Symphony and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony. Abroad, he has conducted the NDR Orchestra in Hanover, Germany, the NRK Orchestra in Oslo, Norway and the Tokyo City Symphony.

Steichen is the Associate Conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, a post he has held for ten seasons. He has conducted for the New York City Opera, leading numerous performances at both the New York State Theater and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Steichen has led performances for Utah Opera, Anchorage Opera, Opera East Texas, and New Jersey Opera Theatre. He has also appeared as a pianist on stage in the Broadway play Master Class, and in Porgy and Bess and Carmina Burana at New York City Opera.
Writing in The Ridgefield Press, Courtenay Cauble called Steichen’s conducting “both visually energetic and well schooled….” In The News Times, Jan Stribula exclaimed “Steichen’s positive spirit had certainly permeated all present, both on and off the stage.”

Sabina Slavin, President of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, stated “we are delighted with Jerry’s appointment. He made a marvelous impression on the musicians, the audience and the Board of Directors when he conducted the Orchestra in December in an all-Russian program. All four candidates were excellent but Jerry was the unanimous choice of the Search Committee and the Board.”

Maestro Steichen says “I am excited for the opportunity to be the Music Director of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. I was impressed by the quality of the orchestra, the dedication of the Board of Directors, the enthusiasm and support of the audience and the beauty of the town.” Maestro Steichen is committed to promoting education in the arts and is hoping to expand the role of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra in the musical arts programs in Ridgefield Public Schools.

Steichen is a native of Tonkawa, Oklahoma and holds degrees from Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma City University and the University of Southern California. He resides in New York City.

The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional orchestra of 60 to 80 musicians playing four concerts per season at Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School and two chamber concerts at The Ridgefield Playhouse. They will also present four concerts, conducted by Petko Dimitrov, Assistant Conductor, at the Lasdon Park Summer Concert Series in Somers, New York on Saturday evenings in July and one concert in Danbury in August under the auspices of City Center Danbury.

For more information, visit www.RidgefieldSymphony.org or call 203-438-3889.
 

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