Join Artistic Advisor David Waltman and the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra for a musically invigorating season as three finalists vie for selection as the symphony’s new Music Director. Be a part of the selection process by letting us know what you think about each conductor. Additionally, we will feature a guest performing artist in each of the three concerts. The November concerts will be conducted by Wesley Schulz, and include a performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto with Dan Sabo, a well known pianist living in our area.
David Wayne Waltman, Artistic Advisor, 2010-2011 Season
In his eighth season as Music Director of Rainier Symphony, David Waltman has developed an international reputation for both compelling symphonic interpretations and an extraordinary ability to inspire orchestras to new levels of achievement. In addition to his current appointments as Music Director of Rainier Symphony, Music Director of the Port Gardner Bay Chamber Orchestra and Permanent Guest Conductor of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in Russia, Mr. Waltman maintains an active guest conducting schedule in the US and abroad.
David has a keen interest in the continuing evolution of symphony orchestras in the 21st century, with a particular emphasis on sustainable business models and increasing community access. In 2005, with the cooperation of business and community leaders in King County, Washington, David launched the Third Millennium Orchestra Project, intended to develop a "best practices" model for a sustainable 21st century regional orchestra. As part of this project, David has greatly expanded Rainier Symphony's community relationships through collaborations with the Evergreen City Ballet, the Tukwila School District, Emerald Ballet Theatre, ChoralSounds Northwest, the Issaquah Chorale, the Everett Chorale and numerous other performing and visual arts organizations in the region.
For nearly two decades, David has also been a sought after clinician and teacher, and has led conducting workshops in Washington state, Hawaii, California, Washington D.C, Colorado, Arizona, New York and Maryland. David's current and former conducting students have been directors or officers assigned to numerous elite military ensembles, including the US Navy Band, the US Naval Academy Band, the US Navy Pacific Fleet Band, the 82nd Airborne Division Band, Navy Band Southwest, Navy Band Southeast, Navy Band Northwest, the 70th Army Band and the NATO Ground Forces Band in Naples, Italy.
Wesley Schulz, Guest conductor, November 2010
Conductor Wesley Schulz has been lauded by musicians for his “intensity and emotion” in performances and for his “approachable and inspiring” leadership. Whether in regards to new music, opera, or ballet, Schulz’s “passion for music…is contagious.”
Schulz currently serves as Assistant Conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Britt Classical Festival. In this capacity he guest conducts on classical subscription concerts, leads family and children’s programs, directs outdoor chamber concerts as a part of the Hartman Concerts in the Park series, and cover conducts for Music Director Peter Bay. Schulz recently concluded four years as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Texas at Austin. There he conducted Mozart’s first opera Bastien und Bastien with the Butler Opera Center, premiered new works by student composers with the New Music Ensemble, and served as Music Director of the University Orchestra. Under Schulz’s direction the University Orchestra grew from thirty-eight musicians to over eighty all the while improving in artistic quality and musicianship. In 2010-2011 Schulz will appear as guest conductor with the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon East Symphony, and the Powder River Symphony, among others.
A fan of the chamber orchestra repertory and collaborative work, in 2007 Schulz founded the Texas Chamber Group presenting chamber sized orchestral works as well as special concert events on a biannual basis to the Austin community. One such program, the Rite of Spring Project, drew a standing room only crowd in witness of a discussion panel, dancers and pianists as well as a full orchestra performance of the ballet score. This performance of Rite of Spring earned Schulz and the ensemble the 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Performance. One judge commented “astonishingly good and…extremely impressive in almost every detail.”
A believer in community engagement, Schulz has appeared in a multiplicity of musical events in the city of Austin, Texas. In addition to having led benefit concerts for social causes, Schulz has appeared as guest conductor with the Austin Chamber Music Center; most recently in their screening of the film Der Golem accompanied by a live chamber ensemble. Additionally, Schulz was asked to guest conduct the International Clarinet Associations’ Showcase Concert at ClarinetFest 2010. Held in Austin’s world-class Bass Concert Hall, Schulz lead clarinet virtuosi JoseŽ Franch-Ballester, Sergio Bosi, Philippe Cuper, and Alan Kay in works by Busoni, Copland, Gabucci, Rossini and Spohr.
Schulz has participated in a variety of masterclasses and conductor training programs including the Pierre Monteux School, the Eastman Summer Conducting Institute, and workshops sponsored by the Conductor’s Guild. He has worked with Thomas Wilkins, Mark Gibson, Michael Jinbo, Kirk Trevor, Bridget-Michelle Reischl, and Neil Varon among others. His primary mentors include Gerhardt Zimmermann and Peter Bay.
Schulz graduated magna cum laude with Bachelor degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Education from Ball State University and Doctorate and Masters degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of music Schulz enjoys running marathons as a member of the Austin-based running group, Gilbert’s Gazelles.
Dan Sabo, Guest Pianist, November 2010
Born and raised in the rural Midwest, Dan Sabo majored in music at St. Olaf College, in Minnesota, before attending graduate school at the University of Colorado. At Colorado, Mr. Sabo developed a specialty in twentieth-century piano music, particularly the music of Olivier Messiaen, and he began concertizing as a duo-pianist with his soon-to-be-wife, Victoria Ebel. This interest in the music of Messiaen led Mr. Sabo to study the composer’s music with his wife, legendary pianist Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen, for two years in Paris. Over the years, Dan and Victoria frequently performed Messiaen’s massive Visions de l’Amen, for two pianos, and Dan gave a number of all-Messiaen recitals (“one of the highlights of the year” - - University of Georgia recital series).
The studies with Yvonne Loriod led to a four-year residence, in Brussels, Belgium. During this stay, Dan and Victoria taught at three different institutions, while studying the duo-piano repertoire at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where they were awarded the Higher Diploma, with great distinction, in Chamber Music. They performed frequently, as a piano duo, particularly in Belgium and Switzerland.
Returning from Europe, Mr. Sabo taught for nearly twenty years at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. His solo, collaborative, concerto, and duo-piano performances included frequent appearances in MacPhail’s concert series, with the Minnesota Composers’ Forum, at the Walker Art Institute, and as a guest artist at various universities. His interest in the music of Alexander Scriabin has led to the performance of several all-Scriabin recitals and his recording of several sets of Preludes by Scriabin, which are available on CD. Last season, he performed the Grieg Concerto with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. This season, Mr. Sabo will be producing a CD of music by Chopin’s student, the Alsatian composer Joseph Schiffmacher.
For the last eight years, Dan and Victoria have operated a private music studio in Bellingham, and they have been frequent performers, in various venues, on the West Coast. The Sabos have always been avid outdoors-persons, having hiked, climbed, and bicycled extensively, in Europe and in North America.
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In his eighth season as Music Director of Rainier Symphony, David Waltman has developed an international reputation for both compelling symphonic interpretations and an extraordinary ability to inspire orchestras to new levels of achievement. In addition to his current appointments as Music Director of Rainier Symphony, Music Director of the Port Gardner Bay Chamber Orchestra and Permanent Guest Conductor of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in Russia, Mr. Waltman maintains an active guest conducting schedule in the US and abroad. 
Conductor Wesley Schulz has been lauded by musicians for his “intensity and emotion” in performances and for his “approachable and inspiring” leadership. Whether in regards to new music, opera, or ballet, Schulz’s “passion for music…is contagious.” 
Born and raised in the rural Midwest, Dan Sabo majored in music at St. Olaf College, in Minnesota, before attending graduate school at the University of Colorado. At Colorado, Mr. Sabo developed a specialty in twentieth-century piano music, particularly the music of Olivier Messiaen, and he began concertizing as a duo-pianist with his soon-to-be-wife, Victoria Ebel. This interest in the music of Messiaen led Mr. Sabo to study the composer’s music with his wife, legendary pianist Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen, for two years in Paris. Over the years, Dan and Victoria frequently performed Messiaen’s massive Visions de l’Amen, for two pianos, and Dan gave a number of all-Messiaen recitals (“one of the highlights of the year” - - University of Georgia recital series). 
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