Symphony In C Announces Music Director, Noam Aviel

New Jersey-based professional training orchestra Symphony in C today announced the appointment of its new Music Director, Noam Aviel. Aviel, who recently appeared as a guest conductor with Symphony in C in January 2023, is recognized for her deep understanding of stylistic approaches in a wide range of repertoire from opera to jazz to symphonic music. Aviel began her position in July and will conduct five concerts as part of Symphony in C's 2023-2024 season.

"I am grateful for the enormous opportunity of becoming a member of the Camden community," Noam Aviel said. "Our musicians are the most talented and passionate musicians in the world. Symphony in C cares deeply and takes great pride in its musicians, which fits my values. I'm looking forward to working together and spreading the spirit and message of classical music."

Born in Israel, Noam Aviel studied at Tel Aviv University and later studied conducting at Illinois State University. She led the San Antonio Symphony as Associate Conductor where she was named one of 25 "Renaissance Women" who have shaped the city of San Antonio as she led the orchestra's extensive educational, community and outreach concerts. Conducting engagements have also included Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, and Opera Orlando.

Paul Bryan, Chair of the Music Director Search Committee, said, "The music director search process gave Symphony in C's musicians and audiences the opportunity to experience the work of five very fine conductors over the course of the 2022-2023 season. I'm very pleased that Noam Aviel will be joining the orchestra as its next music director. She brought remarkable passion and energy to the group's music-making. Beyond her work leading the orchestra, her conversations with the search committee exemplified her genuine interest in the continued growth of Symphony in C's musicians and the organization as a whole."

Jack Tarditi, Chairman of the Board of Symphony in C, said, "The process of finding Symphony in C's next Music Director has reached a successful conclusion, with the appointment of Noam Aviel, a talented and engaging conductor, and someone dedicated to the continuing success of Symphony in C. The search process resulted in candidates who were all eminently qualified, consisting of some of the finest conductors in the world. Although the decision was difficult, we could not have erred with any of the choices. The characteristic which distinguished Noam Aviel was and is her enthusiasm for advancing the mission of Symphony in C. We are confident that our audience will find her to be an amazing talent with a most engaging personality."

Symphony in C's 2023-24 season includes five concerts at Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts developed with Noam Aviel, with works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Corelli, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Dvořák, Beethoven, Henriette Renié, Leonard Bernstein, and Florence Price. Concert dates to be announced.

Hailed for her artistic excellence, versatility and charismatic stage presence, Noam Aviel has emerged on the international scene as one of the most dynamic young conductors. She has been recognized for her musicianship, deep understanding of stylistic approaches in a wide range of repertoire from opera and symphonic to jazz, and sensitivity to the needs of the artists with whom she collaborates.

Following her recent debut with the Symphony in C in the US, Noam Aviel has been appointed the orchestra's Music Director starting from the 2023-2024 season.

Former Associate Conductor of the San Antonio Symphony, Noam Aviel has made successful appearances conducting the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic and Johannesburg Philharmonic orchestras in South Africa as well as San Antonio Philharmonic. In 2022 Noam made her debuts at Opera Orlando with Thomas Albert's contemporary music drama Lizbeth and at Mobile Opera in Alabama conducting L'elisir d'amore. Noam Aviel's future engagements include concerts with Symphony in C, German symphonic debut with Dortmund Philharmoniker, a debut at Opera Tampa conducting Hansel and Gretel, as well as returns to Mobile Opera conducting Marriage of Figaro and Opera Orlando for Massenet's Cendrillon. Noam Aviel has worked on numerous opera productions including La Traviata, La Bohème, Macbeth, Carmen, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Lennox Berkeley's A Dinner Engagement at the Illinois Festival Opera.

Born in Israel, Noam Aviel studied voice performance and orchestral conducting at Tel Aviv University, and later continued her studies in orchestral conducting at Illinois State University in the US. In 2017 Noam Aviel was appointed Assistant Conductor, later promoted to Associate Conductor, of the San Antonio Symphony where she has led the orchestra's extensive educational, community and outreach concerts program working closely with Sebastian Lang Lessing. In this role she quickly gained recognition for inventive programming and has been praised in the US press as one of 25 "Renaissance Women" who have shaped the city of San Antonio.

Symphony in C provides the next generations of musicians and composers with experiences in performance and in engaging with the community, helping musicians to develop skills and experiences for professional success. The Symphony seeks to support musicians in achieving their visions in the changing world of symphonic music.

Founded in 1952 as The Haddonfield Symphony, Symphony in C began as a community orchestra allowing amateur musicians to pursue their love of music by performing for the Haddonfield and southern New Jersey communities. Its debut performance was in January 1954 under music director Guido Terranova. Since then, it has grown into one of only three professional training orchestras in the United States preparing musicians and conductors who are on the cusp of world-class careers through concert, educational outreach and professional development programs.

During the 1987-1988 season, the Symphony began providing training and performance opportunities to young professional musicians with the establishment of its Professional Development Internship Program. Over the next 13 seasons, this program grew to encompass all 78 positions within the orchestra. In 1991, the Symphony established the position of assistant conductor. The first holder of this position, Alan Gilbert, was named music director of the Symphony in 1992. During his tenure, he appointed the first composer-in-residence, Daniel Dorff, and launched the Young Composers' Competition. From 1997 to 2000, Music Director Daniel Hege expanded the Music Matters! educational programs and Professional Development Internship programs for Symphony musicians.

Assistant Conductor Rossen Milanov was appointed Music Director in 2000, and led the organization for fifteen years, attracting the finest young musicians and soloists and increasing the orchestra's artistic profile. In July, 2014, Maestro Milanov announced his departure at the end of the season, after being named Music Director of the Columbus Symphony and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. After an extensive international search, the Board of Directors selected 31 year old Stilian Kirov as Music Director. Maestro Kirov served as Music director from 2015-2020. Symphony in C's 2022-23 season features 5 guest conductors who are being considered for the Music Director position.

In 2004, the Symphony was awarded the national MetLife Award for Community Engagement in recognition of its programs serving people with special needs. In 2006, the Symphony moved its concert series to the Gordon Theater at Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, and changed its name to Symphony in C to reflect its commitment to the cultural and economic redevelopment of Camden. Symphony in C has been designated a Major Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and was awarded a Citation of Excellence.

Symphony in C performances and programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Domenica Foundation, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation, The Presser Foundation, Holman Enterprises,The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the Connelly Foundation, South Jersey Charitable Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, and Subaru of America. Symphony in C is a member of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA).

Photo Credit: Siggi Ragnar