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Julien Benichou
The Program
Julien Benichou, guest conductor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Ballade in A Minor, Op. 33
Ryan M. Hare - Alto Saxophone Concerto (World Premiere, WWS Commission)
Edward Elgar - Enigma Variations
Otis Murphy’s appearance is made possible by the WW Symphony Guest Composer/Artist Fund - Underrepresented Voices
Concert Snapshots
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A minor was commissioned because his mentor, Edward Elgar, recommended him for the job. This piece helped start Coleridge-Taylor’s career and made him known outside the UK.
Elgar’s Enigma Variations began as a simple tune he played at home, but with his wife’s encouragement, it turned into a famous piece of music.
In addition to composing, Ryan Hare plays bassoon and contrabassoon for the Walla Walla Symphony and other orchestras in the Pacific Northwest.
Want to learn more? Click the button below to explore articles about the composers and the pieces, and read the program notes.
Explore the Music
WINE SPONSOR
Wine from our wine sponsor will be available before the concert and during intermission for $5/glass (all proceeds benefit the Walla Walla Symphony).
About the Guest Artist
Otis Murphy, alto saxophone
Otis Murphy holds the position of Professor of Saxophone and Chair of Woodwinds in the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, joining the faculty at the age of twenty-eight and becoming one of the youngest faculty members in its history. He has performed in more than twenty countries worldwide across four continents: North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Dr. Murphy was a prizewinner in national and international competitions and has performed in venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall (New York City), Casals Hall (Tokyo); and Palau de la Musica (Valencia). Dr. Murphy has performed on more than fifteen recordings, including four solo albums receiving critical acclaim. He performed Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Quintet for Alto Saxophone and String Quartet with Pacifica Quartet on their album, Contemporary Voices, winning the GRAMMY Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.
Dr. Murphy has taught as a guest professor at music schools worldwide including the Paris Conservatory, Amsterdam Conservatory, Cologne Academy of Music, London Royal College of Music and many more, and his students have received awards and have careers as performers, educators throughout the world. Dr. Murphy and his wife, pianist Haruko Murphy, live in Bloomington, Indiana as dedicated parents of their six children.
To learn more, visit www.otismurphy-sax.com
Julien Benichou, guest conductor
Julien Benichou is a dynamic conductor and advocate for the future of classical music. He is the General and Artistic Director of the Washington Opera Society (WOS) and Music Director of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO).
He has guest conducted renowned ensembles such as the New York City Ballet, Annapolis Symphony, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and has led orchestras worldwide, including in Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and Portugal. Previously, as Music Director of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, he elevated the ensemble's quality and expanded its reach.
Benichou is also a skilled opera conductor, having recently led productions of Aida, Faust, and Carmen in Washington, DC. A committed educator, he has taken the CYSO on European tours and conducted at Carnegie Hall.
Benichou holds advanced degrees from Northwestern University and the Peabody Institute and has trained with notable conductors, including Leonard Slatkin and Marin Alsop. He divides his time between Baltimore and Provence.
To learn more, visit www.julienbenichou.com