Bradley Thachuk joins the Niagara Symphony as Music Director & Principal Conductor in the 2011-2012 Season. 

In this position, Maestro Thachuk will be responsible for all artistic aspects including programming, guest artist selection and personnel. As the eighth Music Director & Principal Conductor in the Symphony’s sixty-three year history, his role will be key in revitalizing the Symphony’s relationship within the community as it awaits, with eager anticipation, its new home in the Niagara Arts Centre.

Maestro Thachuk’s extensive responsibilities in Fort Wayne have included conducting and programming classical, pops, education and outreach concerts, serving as Music Director of the Fort Wayne Youth Orchestra and conducting for the Fort Wayne Ballet.

Recent guest conducting engagements (with very positive reviews) include the Richmond (Virginia) Symphony, the Windsor (Ontario) and the Reading (Pennsylvania) Symphony – where he was immediately re-engaged for a future performance.

Previous conducting work includes positions as interim Music Director of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and conducting assistant for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, maintaining an association with both orchestras as a cover conductor. From 2000-2002 he was Opera Conductor for Miami University in Ohio, and from 1995-1998 served as Music Director for the Brampton Symphony Orchestra.

In 2005, he was chosen from an international field by legendary violinist/conductor Pinchas Zukerman and world-renowned conducting teacher Jorma Panula to conduct Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra as part of a young conductor showcase concert. In June of 1998, at the Orchestras Canada Conference, he was selected to lead the Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra at the Young Conductors Showcase.

Maestro Thachuk made his European debut conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Hradec Kralove Philharmonic in the Czech Republic and has also appeared as Guest Conductor with orchestras in Slovakia, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal and across the United States.

A conductor of diverse interests and abilities, and a much sought-after symphonic arranger, Bradley Thachuk has conducted opera for Portland Opera Works (Oregon) and Theatre Lucca (Italy) where he served as Resident Conductor for two seasons. (During the course of his career, he has worked in English, French, Italian and German.)

An ardent champion of contemporary music, Maestro Thachuk has conducted world and American premieres of works by John Estacio, Ronald Royer, Doug Opel, Arcangel Castillo Olivari, Robert Baker and was the co-founder and conductor of Canada’s Cygnus Ensemble.

He has also conducted on tour with the Australian rock group Air Supply, conducted the soundtrack for the Canadian feature film The Eternal Husband and conducted multiple main stage productions for the award-winning opera programme at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Born in Toronto, Maestro Thachuk began his music studies at the age of five, studying classical guitar, French horn, and piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He earned a Bachelor of Music Performance in guitar from the University of Toronto, and received his Masters degree and began doctoral studies in conducting at CCM.

Maestro Thachuk made his debut as Music Director Designate & Principal Conductor at the opening of the 2010-11 Season in October 2010 at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre of Brock University, where the Niagara Symphony is proud to be the Orchestra in Residence.

In 2011, Maestro Thachuk will make his permanent home in St Catharines. He looks foward to leading the orchestra in the 2011-2012 Season and beyond, at the new downtown Performing Arts Centre.

Thachuk is pronounced Thă – chuck

Photo by Robert Nowell