Andre Raphel To Conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra Summer 2018

André Raphel returns to the Mann Center of the Performing Arts to conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra in "A Night of Gershwin" on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 8pm. The All-Gershwin program will include the Cuban Overture, the Piano Concerto in F with Curtis pianist Micah McLaurin, making his Mann Center debut, Porgy and Bess, A Symphonic Picture and also An American in Paris. The concert is the closing of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Mann Center Residency. It will be a return appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra for Raphel who last conducted the Orchestra in 2014 and is a Curtis Institute alumnus.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1898, Gershwin was one of the first American composers to bring jazz and Broadway into the concert halls and opera houses. This program pays tribute to his legacy from An American in Paris to his Concerto in F to his operatic masterpiece, Porgy and Bess.

Tickets are priced at $20 to $65 and available now via Ticketmaster.com (800) 745-3000, or at the Mann Box Office. The doors open at 6pm with an 8pm curtain. The Mann Center for the Performing Arts is located in West Fairmount Park at 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia and is easily accessible by public transportation, care, rideshare or bike.

About André Raphel

A dynamic and versatile conductor hailed for his profound musical performances, André Raphel is renowned for his technical brilliance. An adventurous programmer, he has also developed a reputation as an orchestra builder. In his fifteenth season as Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, he has led the orchestra in critically acclaimed festivals, world premieres and commissioned works by composers including Richard Danielpour, Kenneth Fuchs, Jennifer Higdon, Avner Dorman and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

Raphel enjoys an active career as guest conductor. In recent seasons he has appeared with the San Antonio Symphony, Toledo Symphony and made his Los Angeles debut conducting at the gala opening of the Broad Museum. He returned to the Philadelphia Orchestra to conduct the world premiere of Uri Caine's Passion of Octavius Catto. Raphel has led the Bamberg Symphony in two recordings for Bayerischer Rundfunk. He has appeared with most of the major American orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.

André Raphel made his European debut with the Neubrandenburger Philarmonie, and has also led the Moravska Philharmonie. In the United States he has appeared with the orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis, Seattle, the National Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra among others. He made his Carnegie Hall debut leading Robert Shaw and the Orchestra of St. Luke's in a concert celebrating the centennial of legendary mezzo-soprano Marian Anderson. Raphel's international engagements have further included appearances with the Auckland Philharmonia, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Columbia and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica.

A guest conductor at major music festivals, Raphel has led programs at the Blossom Music Festival and the Tanglewood Music Center. He has also appeared at the Mann Center, Grant Park Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Brevard Music Festival and the Campos do Jordao Festival in Brazil.

André Raphel served as Assistant Conductor to Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic for two years. He was Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra for six years. Prior to his appointment in Philadelphia, Raphel served for three years as Assistant Conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony where he worked with Leonard Slatkin.

Raphel has a strong commitment to education and audience development. His commitment to education reflected in his work at leading conservatories and training programs. He has led the Juilliard Orchestra, New World Symphony, Kennedy Center Summer Music Institute and Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

Born André Raphel Smith in Durham, North Carolina he began formal music lessons at age 11. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami, and pursued further study at Yale University where he earned his Master's Degree. While at Yale, he began conducting studies with Otto-Werner Mueller. He continued studies with Mueller at The Curtis Institute of Music earning a Diploma in conducting and at The Juilliard School, where he was awarded the Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship and received and Advanced Certificate in orchestral conducting.

Raphel is the recipient of numerous honors and awards which attest to his artistry. In 2012, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Miami. The Philadelphia Orchestra issued a special commemorative CD featuring William Grant Still's Symphony No. 1 with Maestro Raphel conducting. He received the Distinguished Service Award from Yale University. Raphel is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from West Liberty University. He has received Honorary Commendations from the cities of Philadelphia and Saint Louis. The North Carolina Senate awarded André Raphel the "Order of the Long Leaf Pine." The award, presented annually is the state's highest honor for a civilian.

André Raphel at www.andreraphel.com

photo by Derek Brad

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