Festival Biographies

Reuben Blundell

Reuben Blundell conducts the Hunter College orchestra, where he has launched programs with composers, choreographers and museums, as well as performances in non-traditional spaces. He is a conductor with the Chelsea Symphony and principal conductor with Leora Chamber Orchestra, both in New York City. Mr. Blundell recently conducted Conrad Cumming's opera The Golden Gate for Opera America. In March, he will conduct the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania and in May Leora at Merkin Hall. Last year, he was an Allentown Symphony Conducting Fellow and conducted rehearsals for the Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra and Doctor's Orchestra.

Following a violin fellowship with the New World Symphony (2003-05), Mr. Blundell completed a doctorate in conducting at the Eastman School of Music, studying with Neil Varon. With the Eastman Ensemble and Garth Fagan Dance, he toured to New York City's Joyce Theater, conducting music by Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon. He has received additional instruction from Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop and Jorma Panula, participating in conducting workshops with professional orchestras, including the Bakersfield Symphony, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Norwalk Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony and West Australian Symphony Orchestra.