CONDUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

STANLEY DERUSHA

Stanley DeRusha is Director Musical Invitado of La Orquesta Filarmonica de Montevideo, Uruguay, Music Director and Conductor of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis, IN., former Resident Conductor of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (1995-2007), and Professor of Music at Butler University. American born and trained, he has conducted throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. His credits include numerous American and World premiere performances and he has won the praise of many distinguished composers including William Schuman, Vincent Persichetti, Karel Husa, Ernst Krenek, Joseph Schwantner, Gunther Schuller, Michael Schelle, John Downey, and John Corigliano for his interpretation of their music as well as receiving critical acclaim for his interpretation of the standard repertoire. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin, he has studied conducting with H. Robert Reynolds, Otto Werner-Mueller and Andre Rieu, Sr., and composition with John Downey.

Mr. DeRusha has been Music Director and Conductor of:

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra
La Sinfonica de Vientos de Boyaca (Colombia, S.A.)
The Butler Symphony OrchestraThe Michigan State Orchestra
The Lansing Chamber Orchestra (MI)
The Festival Orchestra of Wisconsin
The Connecticut Youth Symphony
The Indianapolis Youth Symphony
The New Millennium Philharmonic Orchestra
The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra

And he has been interim Music Director and Conductor of:

La Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Colombia (Bogota, Colombia)
La Orquesta Filharmonica de Bogota (Colombia)

Mr. DeRusha has been guest conductor of numerous orchestras to include:

La Orquesta Filharmonica de Montevideo (Uruguay)
La Orquesta Filharmonica de Mendoza (Argentina)
La Orquesta Sinfonica de Concepcion (Chile)
La Orquesta Filharmonica de Goia (Brasil)
La Orquesta Filharmonica de Medellin (Colombia)
The New Haven Symphony (CT)The Naples Philharmonic (FL)
The Boulder Philharmonic (CO)
The Lafayette Symphony (IN)
La Orquesta Nacional de Puerto Rico
La Orquesta Juvenil de Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
La Orquesta Clasica de Santiago, Chile
La Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile
La Orquesta Sinfonica de UNCuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
El SODRE, Orquesta Nacional de Uruguay
And many others.

El Espectador, in Bogota, Colombia, praised him for his “masterful presentations”. In 1986, he was presented the ORDEN de la LIBERTAD by the Colombian Government for his contribution to the Arts.

In 1989, he received National Public Radio’s “Best Contemporary Music Performance Award” for a concert presented and recorded in New York’s Town Hall featuring the Emerson String Quartet and the world premiere of Paul Epstein’s Matinee Concerto for Violin and Chamber Orchestra.

The Colorado Daily Camera claims “DeRusha’s every gesture speaks of solid and well-founded musicianship. Without any trace of showmanship, he communicates his own involvement in the music to both audience and orchestra”. Charles Staff of the Indianapolis Star stated the DeRusha is “…a passionate man of the podium, very visual, demonstrative and communicative (who has brought his orchestra) to an astonishing level of excellence”. He is a frequent guest conductor of major orchestras in the United States and South America.

DeRusha has conducted such major artists as:

Andre Watts
Richard Stoltzman
Aaron Rosand
Dale Clevenger
Panayis Lyras
Mark O’Connor
Ernesto Bitetti
To name a few.

He has conducted in great concert halls such as:

Mozarteum (Salzburg, Austria)
Gustav Siegel House (Stuttgart, Germany)
Teatro Colon (Bogota, Colombia)
Teatro Metropolitano (Medellin, Colombia)
Dr. Sun Yat-Sun Hall (Taipei, Taiwan)
Orchestra Hall (Chicago, Illinois)
Jordan Hall (Boston, Massachusetts)
Town Hall (New York City)
Carnegie Hall (New York City)
Avery Fisher Hall (Lincoln Center, New York City)
Teatro Solis (Montevideo, Uruguay)
To name a few.

Mr. DeRusha has appeared on radio and television in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and South America and can be heard on Orion, Crest, Mark, Gasparo and Citadel compact discs. He has recently completed a new compact disc of the music of Stravinsky and Mexican composer Arturo Rodriguez.

Mr. DeRusha’s University teaching and conducting experience includes positions at:
Butler University (Director of Orchestral Studies – Professor of Music)
The Hartt School of Music (Conductor of Wind Ensemble & Orchestra)
La Escuela Superior de Musica de Tunja (Colombia) (Prof. of Orchestration)
The University of South Florida (Director of Bands)

Michigan State University (Director of Orchestra & Wind Symphony)
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Director of Bands)
The University of Missouri-St. Louis (Professor of Music Education)

Mr. DeRusha has taught conducting workshops at:

La Universidad de Concepcion (Chile)
La Universidad de Montevideo (Uruguay)
Butler University
The University of Michigan
The New England Conservatory of Music
The Interlochen Arts Academy
The Midwest National Band and Orchestra Clinic
The University of California
The University of Colorado
The University of Wisconsin
The Hartt School of Music
The CBDNA Conventions appearances include:
The Conductors Guild
The University of Illinois
The University of Connecticut
The University of Minnesota
Numerous Music Educator Conventions
And more.

His Youth Orchestras have mounted tours of The Republic of China, The British Isles, and Mexico as well as performing at numerous state and national conferences and symposia.

He has guest conducted All-State Ensembles in almost all the United States.

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