RedlandsSymphony

Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

Orchestration

Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

Orchestration

Maestro Jon Robertson is now in his twenty-sixth season as music director and conductor or the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. The extraordinary quality of this orchestra is attributed to the blend of devotion he has for the musicians and his artistic vision. Dr. Robertson is currently Dean of Lynn Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida, where he resides. He also served as Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Conducting/Director of Orchestras at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Robertson’s career as a concert pianist began at age nine with his debut in Town Hall, New York. He continued to give concerts throughout Europe and South America. His degrees are from the Julliard School of Music (B.M, B.S., and D.M.A.) in piano performance and he also studied choral conducting with Abraham Kaplan at Julliard and orchestra conducting with Richard Pittman of the New England Conservatory. He later traveled to Sweden and East Germany to study under Maestro Herbert Blomstedt, former conductor and music director of the Sun Francisco Symphony.

In 1972, Dr. Robertson became conductor and music director of the Thayer Conservatory of Music Orchestra. He served as conductor and music director of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra in Norway, from 1979 to 1987. Dr. Robertson made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony at Stern Grove as guest conductor. He received critical acclaim, and was invited for return engagements during the Symphony’s subscription series at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. Dr. Robertson has conducted the Beijing Central Philharmonic in China, the Gavele Symphony in Sweden, the American Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dr. Robertson has served as a panelist on the NEA orchestral review panel and on the grants and touring panel of the California Arts Council. He has also served on the board of director of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras. He has an interest in theology and is sought after as a consultant, lecturer, and motivational speaker.

Hailed as a pianist who “communicates deep artistic understanding through a powerful and virtuosic technique”, Lisa Leonard enjoys a diverse career as soloist, chamber musician, and educator.

In 1990 at the age of 17, Ms. Leonard made her debut with the National Symphony Orchestra in six concerts at the Kennedy Center. She has appeared throughout Europe, Japan, Russia, and North America with many orchestras including recent performances with the Oregon Mozart Players, and the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. An active chamber musician, she has performed with members of the Berlin, Vienna, New York, Cleveland and Cincinnati Symphonies in addition to members of the American and Mendelssohn String Quartets, and the Empire Brass Quintet in performances featured on National Public Radios’ “Performance Today” and “Command Performance” programs. Her love of new music has resulted in several premieres of both solo and chamber music including James Aikmans’ Sonata No. 3 which she premiered and recorded with violinist Alexander Kerr. In 2006, James Stephenson wrote the Concerto for Trumpet and Piano for Ms. Leonard and her husband, Marc Reese, which they premiered at The New Music Festival at Lynn University with the Lynn University Philharmonia. The performance was noted as one of South Florida’s Top 10 performances of 2007 which also included her performance of the Brahms F minor Piano Quintet at the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival.

The 2007 season has brought exciting new projects and collaborations to fruition including performances with violinist Elmar Oliveira and trumpeter Michael Sachs. She debuted her now very popular recital program, A Soirée for the 21st Century, which focuses on intimate music for intimate settings creating a unique connection between the audience and performer which is further enhanced by interesting conversation about the music as well as wine tasting, featuring vintages reflective of the program’s character.

Additionally, she introduced the public to the unknown romantic Bohemian composer, Hans Seeling, who’s previously unrecorded music will be featured on her next CD.

Ms. Leonard has served on the faculties of the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Meadowmount School of Music, and the Las Vegas Music Festival. She has performed at the Pacific Music Festival, Gilmore International, Caramoor, the East/West International Festival and is a member of the Palm Beach Chamber Players. Ms. Leonard can be heard on the Klavier, Centaur, and Summit labels and has been featured on Japan’s NHK television network. She currently serves on the piano faculty of the Lynn University Conservatory of Music where she strives to help her students become versatile, well rounded performers and teachers. To that end, she founded the Lynn University Collegiate Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association to which she serves as faculty advisor. A native of Washington D.C., Ms. Leonard received her M.M. and B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music where she was the premiere recipient of both the Rubinstein and Balsam awards, two of the highest awards given. Her former teachers include Marc Silverman, Suzanne W. Guy, Eric Larsen, Isidore Cohen, Thomas Schumacher, Cynthia Phelps, David Geber and the Meadowmount Trio. She is represented by Steele Artistic Management who invites you to visit www.pianistLisaLeonard.com for updates and interesting information about Lisa.