MAESTRO WARDELL SELECTED FOR NATIONAL MASTER CLASS

For the second year, Ocala Symphony Orchestra Maestro Matthew Wardell was been chosen as one of five young conductors in the U.S. featured in a conducting workshop to be held in Atlanta this past weekend.

The workshop is part of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) national conference held biennially and allows promising young conductors to be critiqued by some of the biggest names in the business. This is the second time Wardell has been selected for this honor. At CODA's 2008 conference he had the opportunity to work with the Boston Pop’s Keith Lockhart in Provo, UT. This year’s conference is being held Feb. 4-6 at Kennesaw State University just outside Atlanta.

Wardell conducted five pieces: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Copland’s Buckaroo Holiday, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Jones’ Symphony No. 3, and Verdi’s Overture to La Forza del Destino. Each of the works present different challenges allowing the young conductors participating to hone their skills in front of a large group of their peers.

Wardell was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra www.ocalasymphony.com in June 2009 and recently was given a new five-year contract. Since Wardell joined OSO the local professional orchestra has been recognized with a “Stars Over Ocala” award as the Cultural Non-Profit Business of the Year.

 The Ocala Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1975, currently performs eight concerts a year at the Ocala Breeders Sales Auditorium and other performances such as its free holiday “Ocala’s Symphony Under the Lights on the historic downtown square in December, FAFO’s Mothers Day “Symphony Under the Stars” and small ensembles. It is a 501c3 non-profit corporation supported entirely by ticket sales, donations, sponsorships and grants, with offices in the Veranda Gallery & Tea Room located at 416 SE Fort King Street in Ocala. Tickets are available at the office or through www.ocalasymphony.com.