Carl St.Clair
Encyclopedia
Carl Ray St.Clair is an American conductor.
St.Clair attended the University of Texas. He later studied conducting with Gustav Meier
at the University of Michigan
and Leonard Bernstein
at Tanglewood
. He was music director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
(Michigan) from 1985 to 1992, and of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
(Ithaca, NY) from 1986 to 1991. Beginning in 1986, he was an assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
. In 1990, he was a recipient of the Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award
. St.Clair has served on the faculty of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
.
In January 1990, he conducted the Pacific Symphony Orchestra for the first time, and on the success of that appearance, was named the orchestra's music director. During his Pacific Symphony tenure, he and the orchestra have commissioned and recorded several works, including Richard Danielpour
's An American Requiem (Reference Recordings) and Elliot Goldenthal
's Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio (Sony Classical) with cellist Yo-Yo Ma
. Other recordings include "Radiant Voices" and "Postcard" by composer in residence Frank Ticheli (Koch International Classics), and the two piano concertos of Lukas Foss
(harmonia mundi). The orchestra and St.Clair host an annual festival of American composers, including "Uncharted Beauty: The Music of Lou Harrison" (2005–2006), "Los Sonidos de México" (2006–2007), and "The West — Music inspired by the American Frontier" (2007–2008).
In Europe, St.Clair was the Principal Guest Conductor of the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart from 1998–2004, where his work included a three–year recording project of the Villa–Lobos symphonies. He became Generalmusikdirektor (General Music Director, or GMD) of the Staatskapelle Weimar
in 2005, a post he held for three years. In 2008 he took up the post of GMD of the Komische Oper Berlin
, with an initial contract of six years, but in May 2010 he resigned effective with the end of the 2009-10 season.
St.Clair has worked on the creation and implementation of various symphony education programs, including "Classical Connections", "arts-X–press" and "Class Act"". He is also on the faculty at USC
's Thornton School of Music
. In 2006, he worked with the German Bundesjugendorchester (National Youth Orchestra).
St.Clair attended the University of Texas. He later studied conducting with Gustav Meier
Gustav Meier
Gustav Meier is the director of the Orchestra Conducting Program at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. He is also Music Director of the in Connecticut.-Biography:...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
. He was music director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is Ann Arbor, Michigan's only professional orchestra.The A2SO began as a community orchestra in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1928. The "Ann Arbor Civic Symphony" began with only five members and has since blossomed into a full professional orchestra...
(Michigan) from 1985 to 1992, and of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Lanfranco Marcelletti, Jr., is based in Ithaca, New York. The 2010-2011 season will mark its 34th year...
(Ithaca, NY) from 1986 to 1991. Beginning in 1986, he was an assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
. In 1990, he was a recipient of the Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award
Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award
The Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award was an award for conductors in the United States.-History:The award was established in 1985 as the Affiliate Artists' Seaver Conducting Award. The award was being given every two or three years. The award was conceived by the Seaver...
. St.Clair has served on the faculty of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUE, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois about from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest...
.
In January 1990, he conducted the Pacific Symphony Orchestra for the first time, and on the success of that appearance, was named the orchestra's music director. During his Pacific Symphony tenure, he and the orchestra have commissioned and recorded several works, including Richard Danielpour
Richard Danielpour
Richard Danielpour is an American composer.-Biography:Danielpour is born of Persian/Jewish descent. He studied at Oberlin College and the New England Conservatory of Music, and later at the Juilliard School of Music, where he received a DMA in composition in 1986...
's An American Requiem (Reference Recordings) and Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways...
's Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio (Sony Classical) with cellist Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist, virtuoso, and orchestral composer. He has received multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011...
. Other recordings include "Radiant Voices" and "Postcard" by composer in residence Frank Ticheli (Koch International Classics), and the two piano concertos of Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss was a German-born American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Music career:He was born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922. His father was the philosopher and scholar Martin Fuchs...
(harmonia mundi). The orchestra and St.Clair host an annual festival of American composers, including "Uncharted Beauty: The Music of Lou Harrison" (2005–2006), "Los Sonidos de México" (2006–2007), and "The West — Music inspired by the American Frontier" (2007–2008).
In Europe, St.Clair was the Principal Guest Conductor of the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart from 1998–2004, where his work included a three–year recording project of the Villa–Lobos symphonies. He became Generalmusikdirektor (General Music Director, or GMD) of the Staatskapelle Weimar
Staatskapelle Weimar
The Deutsche Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar is the most important musical and theatrical venue in Weimar in Germany. It is a twin institution, consisting of the theatrical Deutsches Nationaltheater and the symphony orchestra known as the Staatskapelle Weimar...
in 2005, a post he held for three years. In 2008 he took up the post of GMD of the Komische Oper Berlin
Komische Oper Berlin
The Komische Oper Berlin is an opera company in Berlin, Germany, which specializes in German language productions of opera, operetta and musicals....
, with an initial contract of six years, but in May 2010 he resigned effective with the end of the 2009-10 season.
St.Clair has worked on the creation and implementation of various symphony education programs, including "Classical Connections", "arts-X–press" and "Class Act"". He is also on the faculty at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's Thornton School of Music
USC Thornton School of Music
The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, founded in 1884 and dedicated in 1999, is one of the premier music schools in the United States...
. In 2006, he worked with the German Bundesjugendorchester (National Youth Orchestra).