Michael Repper
Michael Repper | |
|---|---|
 Michael Repper at the 2023 Grammy Awards | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 25, 1990 Orange, California |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation | Conductor |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Website | mikerepper.com |
Michael Repper (born September 25, 1990) is an orchestral conductor, the youngest American to win the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance.[1][2] He is the music director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and was the Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony until 2023. There, he became the only conductor to have ever led a youth orchestra to a Grammy Award.[3] He was the conducting fellow of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 2014 to 2016.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Repper was born in Orange, California to Claudia Gold Repper, an emergency physician, and David Repper. He graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts in 2008,[5] and received a Bachelors of Arts (2012) and Masters of Arts in music (2013) from Stanford University.[6] In 2022, he graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music as a Doctor of Musical Arts, a student of Marin Alsop and Gustav Meier.[7]
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Repper grew up in Orange County, California and attended the Pacific Symphony's family concerts with his grandmother, where he was inspired to take piano lessons.[8] He was invited to study piano in Melbourne, Australia with Nehama Patkin when he was 8 years old,[9] and it was in Australia that he conducted an orchestra for the first time.[10] After he returned to the United States when he was 9, he began to study conducting formally with Marin Alsop.[11] After attending Stanford University, Michael attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Gustav Meier and served as the Assistant Conductor of the Peabody Orchestras and Choruses. He was also the Conducting Fellow of the Baltimore Symphony.[12]
Music director
[edit]In 2016, Repper became the 17th music director of the New York Youth Symphony, which performs at Carnegie Hall.[13] Under his direction, the New York Youth Symphony earned international honors, winning a Classical Digital Award in 2020[14] and the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2023, becoming the first youth orchestra in history to achieve this recognition.[15][16]
Repper became the music director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in 2022.[17][18] He is regularly seen as a guest conductor in the United States and around the world.
Honors and achievements
[edit]- 2020, 2021, 2022 Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Awards[19]
- Classical Music Digital Award 2020: Best Lockdown Project (Mahler Symphony No. 1, Mvt 2 – New York Youth Symphony)[20]
- #1 Billboard Traditional Classical Chart: Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Florence Price (New York Youth Symphony)[21]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Best Orchestral Performance | Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman | Won | [22] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Best Orchestral Performance Winner from the New York Youth Symphony Celebrates At The City National Bank First Look Camera".
- ^ "Ashland Symphony's Michael Repper Wins a Grammy".
- ^ "Michael Repper's Acceptance Speech". February 5, 2023.
- ^ "Baltimore Symphony appoints Markus Stenz Principal Guest Conductor". July 9, 2014.
- ^ "Symphony of Dreams".
- ^ "Stanford Magazine, the Ticker". February 14, 2023.
- ^ "Peabody Magazine: Michael Repper and Kevin Puts 2023 Grammy Award Winners". February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Dreams Begin at Pacific Symphony". February 6, 2023.
- ^ "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces New Conducting Appointments".
- ^ "Meet the Maestro". January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Conductor Michael Repper Releases Debut Album with New York Youth Symphony". June 22, 2022.
- ^ "New York Youth Symphony Opens Season at Carnegie Hall".
- ^ "Baltimore Sun: Two Peabody Alums Gain New Conducting Posts". November 30, 2016.
- ^ "2020 Classical Digital Awards". YouTube.
- ^ "CBS News: New York Youth Symphony Makes Grammy History". CBS News. February 6, 2023.
- ^ "France24: New York Youth Symphony Wins Grammy for Debut Album". February 6, 2023.
- ^ "Repper chosen to be new Music Director of Ashland Symphony".
- ^ "Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Appoints New Music Director". June 15, 2022.
- ^ "Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Awards Recipients".
- ^ "Classical Music Digital Awards 2020". YouTube.
- ^ "Billboard Traditional Classical Charts, Week of May 28, 2022". Billboard.
- ^ "65th Grammy Awards Winners and Nominees". Recording Academy. February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
