Artistic Staff
Portland Youth Philharmonic Selects New Conductor
The Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) is pleased to announce that David Hattner has been unanimously selected as the 5th Conductor and Music Director of the 84-year old institution. Mr. Hattner was chosen from a pool of more than 112 candidates from around the world after an eight month process of evaluation by a search committee made up of board members, parents, music teachers, alumni, current musicians, and representatives from the Oregon Symphony and Chamber Music Northwest.
“David is ideal for PYP. He creates the musical and social environment in which young musicians can and want to do their best,” said Murry Sidlin, former Resident Conductor of the Oregon Symphony, who has worked with Mr. Hattner at the Aspen Music Festival and the Cascade Festival of Music. “He is a brilliant clarinetist, has very high artistic vision, and invites young musicians to join him at that level. He has worked ferociously to become the excellent conductor he is. Nobody handed him anything. He worked for it and succeeded. PYP is tremendously fortunate to have persuaded David to join them.”
Established in 1924, the PYP is America’s first established youth orchestra. As Conductor and Music Director, Mr. Hattner will be responsible for the artistic and educational direction of the Association to include: planning, preparing and conducting season concerts, children’s concerts, and run-out and preview performances; supervising the Staff Conductors (who work with the PYP’s Conservatory Orchestra and Young String Ensemble); outreach work in the schools; and auditioning applicants and members.
David Hattner’s conducting credits include the Oklahoma Chamber Ensemble, the Garden State Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Atlantica, and multi-media work with silent film in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. “David Hattner conducted a calmly authoritative performance . . . ” wrote Anthony Tommasini in the New York Times, reviewing a performance of Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light. He has also guest conducted the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Sospeso, International Contemporary Ensemble, Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra and the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra. Hattner received a Bachelor of Music Degree with honors from Northwestern University where he was a clarinet student of Robert Marcellus. He has participated in the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen three times, where he studied with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin. In addition to his conducting pursuits, he is a professional clarinetist, including Principal Clarinet positions with Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Cascade Music Festival Orchestra, New Jersey Opera Theater and Key West Symphony Orchestra.
Upon completion of the 2006-2007 Season Mei-Ann Chen stepped down as Conductor and Music Director to accept a Conducting Fellowship with the League of American Orchestras at the Atlanta Symphony. Four different interim guest conductors have conducted the orchestra throughout the 2007-2008 Season so that a search could go on separately throughout the year.
The Portland Youth Philharmonic Association is more than confident that in Mr. Hattner we have found a worthy and capable leader who will continue the very high standards his predecessors have firmly established during PYP’s extraordinary 84 years.
Mr. Hattner will join us May 3rd for PYP’s annual Conductors’ Circle Dinner prior to the Spring Concert. If you are interested in attending this exclusive event please contact Diane O’Malley at 503-223-5939 ext. 105. David will officially be in residence beginning August 2008, but he will be here for new auditions and re-auditions. His debut concert with PYP will take place November 8, 2008.
Larry Johnson, Conservatory Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Conductor
Mr. Johnson received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Puget Sound and his Masters in Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He conducted and directed wind ensemble, band and orchestra at PSU and Mount Hood Community College. He has taught at Clackamas Community College and Lewis and Clark College. He is formerly principal horn of Germany's Philharmonia Hungarica, was assistant principal horn with the Oregon Symphony (1996 - 2005), and a regular member of the Seattle Opera's Wagner Ring Cycle Orchestra since 1976. He has performed with other orchestras throughout the Pacific Northwest, numerous chamber music groups and summer music festivals.
E-mail: larry@portlandyouthphil.org
Ann Cockerham, Orchestra Manager & Music Librarian
Mrs. Cockerham was a music teacher for grades Kindergarten through 10 from 1995-2000. She has continued to stay involved with music for young people by starting a vocal choir and a handbell choir at her church. She joined the PYP team in 2001. Contact her about any orchestra related matters such as attendance, auditions and instrumental rental. She is also responsible for organizing and distributing the musical repertoire for all 3 orchestras, and maintaining the PYP's music library.
E-mail: ann@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 102
Nic Granum, Assistant Orchestra Manager
A PYP alum, Nic is a graduate student in Public Administration at Portland State and a volunteer firefighter with Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. He played the French horn in PYP from 1996-2004. He has also worked with Young Musicians and Artists since 2000 and OMSI Science Camps since 1997.
E-mail: nic@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 107
Administrative staff
Diane Syrcle, Executive Director
Diane Syrcle, Executive Director, brings a special blend of passion and innovation to the field of arts education. Diane served as the Director of Education and Outreach at the Portland Opera from 1997-2003 where she directed the young artist training program Portland Opera Works and acted as the Administrator for the Jeanine B. Cowles Portland Opera Performing Institute. She received a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and certification in Music Education for secondary schools at West Texas A & M University and a Master of Music Degree from the University of North Texas. Teaching experience includes choir, art, and speech. Ms. Syrcle also has an active singing career. She is a passionate advocate for art in the lives of all Oregonians and a proven businessperson.
E-mail: diane@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 106
Ingrid Arnett, Community Relations Director
Ms. Arnett received her Bachelor's degree from the Journalism School at the University of Oregon. Previously she was in charge of marketing and communications at William Temple House, a non-profit Human Services organization.
Contact her for marketing and publicity, Note4Note (a fundraising program for local schools), special events, networking opportunities, ticketing ideas, group sales, partnerships, program advertising and to purchase concert tickets.
E-mail: ingrid@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 104
Arland Nicewander, Office Manager
Arland graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2001 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Business/Management. After a short stint at music licensing giant, The Harry Fox Agency, Arland went to work as a booking agent for Colbert Artists Management. During his employment at Colbert, Arland booked concerts for such artists as Janos Starker, The Juilliard String Quartet, and Jennifer Koh. Arland joins the Portland Youth Philharmonic staff as the Office Administrator.
As the Office Admoinistrator, his primary duties will include data base management, volunteer coordination, as well as office management.
E-mail: arland@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 107
Diane O'Malley, Accounting Manager
Diane earned her MBA at Portland State University and has over 20 years experience in accounting, human resources and finance. Diane teaches hospitality accounting at Mount Hood Community College and serves as both the children's minister and bookkeeper for her church.
E-mail: dianeomalley@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 105
Gabriel Vernon, Graphic Designer
Gabriel earned his BFA at James Madison University and has been working in the design, advertising, and marketing industry for over 6 years. He acted as lead designer at The Ad Agency in Washington, DC for three years and worked with other small agencies such as The O'Connor Group in Virginia. Upon moving to Portland, he has not only worked with PYP but also acts as a designer for TriMet and Rockford Homes.
While designing for both, he also takes on freelance projects from both east and west coast companies. In addition to being a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, his work was featured in the 2001 PRINT Regional Design Annual.
E-mail: gabriel@portlandyouthphil.org
Phone: Extension 110
