Father and Son Maestros David and Joshua Thye To Make 25 th and Third Appearances Respectively at Carnegie Hall

Dr. David R. Thye of Gilbert, Arizona, was not born into a musically-inclined family. But after taking trumpet lessons in the fifth grade, he found his passion. He began his musical journey as a trumpeter and baritone vocalist -- and has never looked back. Today this father of two and grandfather of six, who made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2005, is now the patriarch of a three-generation musical dynasty.

On May 29 at 8 PM, David and his eldest Joshua D. Thye will separately conduct on the Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage as part of MidAmerica Productions' 35th annual concert season.

For Maestro David Thye, Tuesday will mark his 25th conducting performance on the Carnegie Hall main stage while it will be Maestro Joshua Thye's third. Father and son last appeared in the same Carnegie Hall-MidAmerica Productions Playbill in 2008.

"Words cannot express the joy that is mine to share Carnegie Hall's main stage with my fellow conductor, my professional colleague and son," said David Thye. "I'm extremely proud of Josh as a phenomenal musician, conductor, trumpeter and teacher. His love for music, high-level artistry and excellence are enhanced by his character, integrity and love for people. Josh's bands annually win local, state and national competitions. Many of his students have been inspired to become professional musicians themselves. I am in awe of his impact on his students and the community he thrives in."

David Thye will conduct the New England Symphonic Ensemble in selections from Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo, which brings to life the global aspect of the traditional Psalm 100 text, "O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands," by setting it in seven different languages and drawing from a wide spectrum of musical influences. Jubilate Deo will be sung by Soprano Courtney Johnson and Mezzo-Soprano Sabina Kim along with these participating choruses and their musical directors:

• University Chorale-Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD (William Folger, Director)
• Central Regional High School Choir, Bayville, NJ (Beth Moore, Director)
• Goddard-Eisenhower Choirs, Goddard, KS; Wichita First Presbyterian Church Choir, Wichita, KS (Gretchen Bixler and Steve Bixler, Directors)
• Marist College Singers, Poughkeepsie, NY (Sarah Williams, Director)

Under Josh Thye's baton will be the Desert Vista High School Wind Ensemble of Phoenix, Arizona, of which he is an alumnus and also serves as Director of Bands. He'll be joined by Vicente Lopez, who directs the school's Advanced Percussion Ensemble, in conducting the following repertoire:

• MICHAEL MARKOWSKI: joyRIDE
• ANDREW WORDEN: Bolt (World Premiere)
• ALFRED REED: Hounds of Spring
• MORTEN LAURIDSEN: Contre Qui, Rose, trans. H. Robert Reynolds
• RANDALL STANDRIDGE: Danse Bohemien
• HENRY FILLMORE: Rolling Thunder March

Both David and Josh Thye "tirelessly seek out new literature, new composers and new talented musicians."

Andrew Worden's Bolt, will be making its world premiere debut at Carnegie Hall on May 28. It was commissioned by Desert Vista High School and "dedicated in memory of our friend and faithful Band Dad, Craig Dorste."

Composer/Desert Vista High School Alumnus Andrew Worden wrote this about Bolt in a program note:

If I'm lucky, about two-thirds of the way through a run, I'll get a bolt of energy. Sometimes it's triggered by music, sometimes by pushing through fatigue. I start to run faster. I smile without even trying, and all possibilities feel like opportunities - it's euphoric! Science says this is a mixture of biology and psychology, with endorphins and other hormones coursing through the body. Runners call it "runner's high." Artists call it "flow state." Call it what you will, but the bolt is elusive. It doesn't always come. In fact, many times it won't. But I think that's part of its appeal.

Does David -- whose music career has taken him internationally to Florence, Italy, as well as throughout the entire United States as a professor at four different colleges, choir master and festival director -- have any advice for parents who believe they have a musical prodigy on their hands, or simply want to pass along their love of music to their daughters and sons?

"I always told my children to enjoy music - and NOT to make music a profession," said David Thye. "But when they, too, became passionate musicians and wanted to continue, I encouraged them only to continue IF they just had to do it. I wanted them to continue by their own choice, will and desire, not by my own encouragement. Now all of them are engaged in a great love affair with music. "My other son, Jake, is a gifted tenor and former trumpet player who is a project engineer for Boeing. His wife, Hillary, is an outstanding alto who minored in music in college. Josh's wife, Jenni, is a worship leader at her church.

"My wife Cher and I have six grandchildren (ages 2 to 8 years old) who love music, sing, dance and play percussion instruments," continued David Thye. "Our oldest granddaughter enjoys playing Orff instruments. Our second oldest granddaughter was selected as a soloist in her school talent program."

Concerts in the Isaac Stern Auditorium/Ronald O. Perelman Stage are $150, $100, and $50. Tickets may be obtained by contacting CarnegieCharge at 212-247.7800, visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and 7th Avenue in New York, NY, or by going online to www.carnegiehall.org).

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About David R. Thye

David R. Thye is a passionate conductor, educator, lecturer and clinician. While inspiring excellence through discipline and musical integrity, Dr. Thye consistently delivers cutting-edge "live" performances with sincerity, focus and enthusiasm.

In addition to his work with MidAmerica Productions and MidAm International as conductor-in-residence, Dr. Thye actively conducts music festivals across the U.S. and abroad. As a professor he was the Robert L. Burton chair of graduate conducting at Southwestern Graduate School of Music and music director and conductor of the Master Chorale (the principal chorus of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra), director of choral activities at Southwestern College in Phoenix, the University of Montana in Missoula, and the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.

Having received his B.A. degree in music education and voice from the University of Sioux Falls, Thye began his teaching career as a public school choral director. He earned both M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Under Thye's baton, various high school, collegiate and professional choral organizations have been selected to perform in Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City and other premier concert halls and venues across the nation. Dr. Thye continues to be active as a conductor of music festivals. In recognition of his outstanding success, the University of Sioux Falls presented him with its Alumni Pacesetter Award.

With 40 years of leadership experience in music education, Dr. Thye has conducted and managed numerous music organizations, from elementary-age to professional-based ensembles-encompassing such varied genres as jazz, choral and symphonic works, musical theatre, opera and oratorio in South Dakota.

Dr. Thye has also been a significant force for musical excellence in the church. He has been director of music and worship in several churches with weekly attendance ranging up to 5,000 people.

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About Joshua D. Thye

Joshua Thye is currently the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He joined the music faculty at Desert Vista High School in May of 2003, immediately following the passing of the school's first band director. Being a graduate of Desert Vista High School himself, Mr. Thye is honored to teach back at his Alma Mater, replacing his former high school band director. Under his direction, the band program regenerated and grew to its current state of over 250 members. Under Mr. Thye, the Thunder Marching Band is the reigning Arizona Div. 1 State Marching Champion, earning the title for the 7th time in the last 8 years.

Mr. Thye completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona in 2003 earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration through the University of Phoenix and a Master of Instrumental Conducting through the American Band College of Sam Houston State University.

Maestro Peter Tiboris created and conducted his first concert in New York on January 7, 1984, at Lincoln Center, featuring The American Symphony Orchestra, soloists, and three choruses, the Louisiana Chorale of Acadiana, Camerata Singers of Baton Rouge, and Collegiate Chorale of New York. Although he didn't realize it at the time, Mr. Tiboris had just created his own, successful, Production Company, MidAmerica Productions, which was to become the foremost independent producer of choral concerts in Carnegie Hall.

During its 35 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, soloists, and choral and instrumental ensembles from the U.S. and abroad to appear at New York's top venues, including Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; and Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall) at Lincoln Center. In addition to presenting instrumental and classic choral works. MidAmerica Productions has championed the works of contemporary composers with approximately 87 World Premieres, 21 United States Premieres and 99 New York Premieres.

Additionally, MidAmerica Productions has presented concerts in numerous U.S. cities and in countries throughout the world, including Greece, England, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, France and Russia.