August 2015
Congratulations to the Orchestra performing groups at the 2016 Missouri Music Educators Conference
Truman Middle School-Michelle Howard, conductor
Glendale High School-Andy Johnston, conductor
St. Charles County Youth Orchestra-Wm. Shane Williams, conductor
Youth Symphony of Kansas City Academy Orch.-Russ Berlin, conductor
Missouri State University String Orchestra-Dr. Amy Muchnick, conductor
ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR IS ANNOUNCED
April 2015
I am proud to announce the conductor of the 2016 Missouri All-State Orchestra is Douglas Droste from Ball State University. I have attached his bio below.
All State auditions are set for Saturday, December 5, 2015 in Columbia, Missouri.
Douglas Droste
Director of Orchestras and Associate Professor of Music at Ball State University
Conductor Douglas Droste is recognized as possessing “obvious joy” for making music and a “sure sense of timing” when on the podium. Those under his baton routinely acknowledge him for his in-depth musical interpretations, keen sense of communication, and his personable ability to empower musicians. Droste is the Artistic Director of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at Ball State University.
Droste’s innovative approach to programming with the MSO has led to acclaimed reviews. He has conducted performances of Michael Torke’s Ash, Scott Routenberg’s Concerto for Jazz Violin and Orchestra featuring Christian Howes, and special event concerts with the ground-breaking string trio, Time for Three, and the Ball State University “Pride of Mid-America” Marching Band. Droste has also led the MSO in dynamic performances of Respighi’s Pines of Rome, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
At Ball State, Droste conducts the Ball State Symphony Orchestra and oversees the orchestral conducting program. Recent performances with the BSSO have included Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (1919), the full production of Massenet’s Werther, and a combined performance with the BSU Jazz Ensemble of The Kennedy Dream by Oliver Nelson, the first live performance since the original recording in 1967.
Droste and jazz violinist Christian Howes were invited by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine to perform and teach as part of an ongoing cultural exchange and engagement. Droste guest conducted the INSO-Lviv Symphony Orchestra in a goodwill concert entitled “Music from the New World” and gave a conducting masterclass to young Ukrainian conductors. Other guest conducting includes the Columbus Symphony and BalletMet Columbus’ production of The Nutcracker, the orchestras of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Midland-Odessa; and the Amarillo Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra on an all-Bach concert, performing as violin/leader on Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. Demonstrating his versatility, Droste has conducted pops concerts with artists such as Ben Folds, The Flaming Lips, Pink Martini, Michael Cavanaugh, John Pizzarelli, and Emily Drennan.
A dedicated advocate of music education, Droste regularly conducts youth orchestras and also presents in-service conference sessions throughout the country. He is active as a clinician and adjudicator for school orchestras and festivals, and is affiliated with organizations such as Music For All, Yamaha, American String Teachers Association, Festival Disney, and Perform International. Believing that outreach is an important tool for the promotion of music education, Droste has developed Young People’s Concerts for several orchestras.
A talented violinist, Droste has performed with the orchestras of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Nashville, Memphis, Lubbock, and the Lancaster Festival (OH). He is a former student of John Gilbert and the late Michael Davis. Droste is also skilled on viola and trumpet, and has sung with a variety of choral ensembles.
Droste has held positions at Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Oklahoma Youth Symphony, Austin Peay State University, and Liberty Union-Thurston School District (OH). Droste studied conducting at the Pierre Monteux School, Oregon Bach Festival with Helmuth Rilling, as well as other prominent conducting seminars. His primary conducting mentors include Gary Lewis, Larry Rachleff, and Michael Jinbo. Droste holds degrees from The Ohio State University and Texas Tech University.