Eckart Preu
Encyclopedia
Eckart Preu is an East German-born conductor
.
At the age of 10 he became a member, soloist and assistant conductor of the Boys Choir Dresdner Kreuzchor
In Germany he earned a Masters Degree in Conducting from the Hochschule für Musik in Weimar studying under Gunther Kahlert and Nicolás Pasquet
. He also studied under Jean-Sebastien Bereau at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in France.
Preu came to the United States as winner of the National Conducting Competition of the German Academic Exchange Service (1996) for graduate studies with Harold Farberman
at the Hartt School of Music. Preu has been Music Director of the Spokane Symphony
in Spokane, Washington
since September 2004. He has also been music director of the Stamford Symphony in Stamford, Connecticut
since 2005. For three seasons he was Associate Conductor of the Richmond Symphony. He also served as Resident Conductor with the American Symphony Orchestra
and the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra. Former posts include Music Director of the Norwalk Youth Symphony and Principal Conductor of the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (NY). He was both Assistant and Guest Conductor at the Bard Music Festival. In Europe, Preu served as Music Director of L'Orchestre Internationale de Paris from 1993-95. Eckart Preu is also a frequent guest speaker for local businesses, community organizations and schools. He writes monthly articles for the local newspaper, the Stamford Advocate.
As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Jerusalem Symphony, the Pecs Philharmonic (Hungary), and in Germany with the Jenaer Philharmonie, the Hallesche Philharmonie, the Thüringer Kammerorchester, and the Landessinfonieorchester Gotha. Eckart Preu performed at Carnegie Hall
in May 1999 and January 2008, and at the Sorbonne
in Paris. His concerts have been aired by WPKT Stamford, KPBX Spokane, WCVE Richmond, and Jerusalem Radio. He has collaborated with internationally renowned soloists like Richard Stoltzman
, Horacio Gutierrez
, Vladimir Feltsman
, Jean-Phillipe Collard, Leila Josefowicz
and Sarah Chang
.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
At the age of 10 he became a member, soloist and assistant conductor of the Boys Choir Dresdner Kreuzchor
Dresdner Kreuzchor
The Dresdner Kreuzchor is the boys' choir of the Kreuzkirche in Dresden. It has a seven century history. Today the choir has about 150 members from the age of 9-19 from Dresden and the surrounding region. Most of the boys live in a boarding school. The Choir Boys are also called "Kruzianer". The...
In Germany he earned a Masters Degree in Conducting from the Hochschule für Musik in Weimar studying under Gunther Kahlert and Nicolás Pasquet
Nicolás Pasquet
Nicolás Pasquet is a conductor from Uruguay and professor of conducting.-Biography:Born in 1958 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Pasquet studied violin and conducting at the National Music College. He later studied in Germany, violin at the Stuttgart College of Music and conducting in Nürnberg...
. He also studied under Jean-Sebastien Bereau at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in France.
Preu came to the United States as winner of the National Conducting Competition of the German Academic Exchange Service (1996) for graduate studies with Harold Farberman
Harold Farberman
Harold Farberman is an American conductor, composer, and percussionist.-Biography:Farberman studied percussion at Juilliard and composition at the New England Conservatory and at Tanglewood with Aaron Copland...
at the Hartt School of Music. Preu has been Music Director of the Spokane Symphony
Spokane Symphony
The Spokane Symphony is a 70-piece orchestra based in Spokane, WA that performs more than 60 concerts per year for more than 150,000 listeners. It was originally incorporated in 1945 as the Spokane Philharmonic before being renamed the Spokane Symphony in 1962...
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
since September 2004. He has also been music director of the Stamford Symphony in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
since 2005. For three seasons he was Associate Conductor of the Richmond Symphony. He also served as Resident Conductor with the American Symphony Orchestra
American Symphony Orchestra
The American Symphony Orchestra is a New York-based American orchestra founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski, then aged 80. Following Maestro Stokowski's departure, Kazuyoshi Akiyama was appointed Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1973-1978. Music Directors during the early...
and the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra. Former posts include Music Director of the Norwalk Youth Symphony and Principal Conductor of the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (NY). He was both Assistant and Guest Conductor at the Bard Music Festival. In Europe, Preu served as Music Director of L'Orchestre Internationale de Paris from 1993-95. Eckart Preu is also a frequent guest speaker for local businesses, community organizations and schools. He writes monthly articles for the local newspaper, the Stamford Advocate.
As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Jerusalem Symphony, the Pecs Philharmonic (Hungary), and in Germany with the Jenaer Philharmonie, the Hallesche Philharmonie, the Thüringer Kammerorchester, and the Landessinfonieorchester Gotha. Eckart Preu performed at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in May 1999 and January 2008, and at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris. His concerts have been aired by WPKT Stamford, KPBX Spokane, WCVE Richmond, and Jerusalem Radio. He has collaborated with internationally renowned soloists like Richard Stoltzman
Richard Stoltzman
Richard Stoltzman is an American clarinetist. Born Richard Leslie Stoltzman in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his early years in San Francisco, California and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Woodward High School in 1960. Today, Stoltzman is part of the faculty list at the New England Conservatory...
, Horacio Gutierrez
Horacio Gutiérrez
Horacio Gutiérrez is a Cuban-American virtuoso classical pianist.-Early life and education:Gutiérrez was born in Havana, Cuba, the eldest of four children, to Tomás V. Gutiérrez and Josefina Fernandez Gutiérrez. His mother was his first piano teacher, and was herself, an accomplished pianist. His...
, Vladimir Feltsman
Vladimir Feltsman
Vladimir Feltsman is a Russian American classical pianist.Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. He studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky, Moscow, and Leningrad Vladimir Feltsman is a Russian American classical pianist.Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. He...
, Jean-Phillipe Collard, Leila Josefowicz
Leila Josefowicz
Leila Bronia Josefowicz , is an American/Canadian classical violinist.-Biography:Josefowicz was born in Missisauga, Ontario, Canada. When she was a young child her family moved to Los Angeles, California where she started studying violin at the age of three and a half using the Suzuki method...
and Sarah Chang
Sarah Chang
Sarah Chang is a Korean American violinist. Her debut came in 1989 with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Shortly thereafter, Chang was recognized as a child prodigy. She enrolled at Juilliard School to study music, graduating in 1999 and continuing university studies...
.