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CONDUCTING
Irvin
L. Wagner
Irvin L. Wagner is a positive,
enthusiastic conductor who enjoys making
good music in all styles.
He is constantly trying to provide
musical situations where the public and the
members of the orchestra can come together
to share a rewarding experience.
He views music not as something to be
observed as if in a museum but as something
to be felt, experienced, enjoyed and shared.
His constant goal is to have both the
members of the orchestra and the audience
feel stimulated and fulfilled.
This concept of making music comes
naturally for Maestro "Irv" because he
grew up singing gospel and country music
with his family, played classical solos on
his trombone from a very early age, and
started playing jazz while still in high
school. These experiences lead him to be involved with audiences of
every type, and he always strives to please
the listeners and his fellow musicians in
every situation.
Is it any wonder that he now is
recognized in the nation and the world for
his contributions as an "ambassador of
good will."
Dr. Wagner has conducted orchestras
around the globe.
For example, he has appeared as guest
conductor of orchestras from Fort Collins,
Colorado to Beijing, China.
One of his most significant
appearances was as conductor of the
Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Brisbane,
Australia in a concert broadcast live over
much of the South Pacific; and for several
years he conducted the Polychoral Music
Festival in Venice, Italy.
Furthermore, he has conducted for
famous entertainers such as the Smothers
Brothers, Bob Hope, Charlie Pride, The
Kingston Trio, The Platters, and Michael
Martin Murphy.
Recently, he conducted the premier
performances of "Jack," a Broadway
Musical based upon the life of John F.
Kennedy.
Maestro Wagner started conducting
orchestras at an early age as well as
playing trombone in them.
He studied conducting at the Eastman
School of Music with Howard Hanson,
Frederick Fennell, Paul Dudley White, and A.
Clyde Roller.
Following his Eastman opportunities
he has had close contact with several of the
world's great conductors including those
that have attained success in the commercial
field such as Ray Wright of the Radio City
Music Hall and Elliott Lawrence of many
television shows.
It is as a trombonists that Irv is
probably best known around the world.
He has served as the President of the
International Trombone Association, and has
traveled to various parts of the world on
countless occasions giving concerts and
seminars.
He has performed in China, Japan,
Australia, Germany, Israel, South Africa,
Brazil, and India.
Through a television special about
him in China coupled
with a recital on All-India Radio, it
has been estimated that he and his trombone
have been heard by at least a quarter of the
population of the entire world, over one
billion listeners.
This ranks him as the
"most-heard" trombonist of the world.
In addition he recently gave a
concert in Rachmaninoff Hall at the
Tschaikovsky Conservatory of Music In Moscow
and in Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg,
Russia.
Recognizing his many accomplishments
in 1988 Dr. Wagner was named "Oklahoma
Musician of the Year" by the Federated
Music Clubs of Oklahoma and the Governor,
and he holds the titles of "David Ross
Boyd Professor of Music" and "Regents
Professor" which are both distinguished
professorships at the University of
Oklahoma.
Irv
obtained a bachelors degree from
McPherson College in Kansas and masters and
Doctors degrees from the Eastman School of
Music. He
has been a member of the Wichita Symphony
Orchestra, the Baton Rouge Symphony
Orchestra, and is currently a member of the
Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra.
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