Raffaele Ponti, Music Director

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Winning admirers and exciting audiences, conductor Raffaele Ponti is known as an artist of dynamic personality, charismatic performances, and superb musicianship. Raffaele is enjoying outstanding success conducting symphony orchestras and opera performances throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  The Chicago Courier News writes, "Maestro Ponti is a rising star, someone gaining international acclaim and attention.  He has a tremendous zest for music, an exuberance recalling both the roar and rush of a roller coaster ride.  Fans worldwide say that his passion shows. Ponti brings an exhilarating energy level to center stage.  It's an electrifying swagger - empowering and enabling him to pull music from light to darkness and back again." 

Mr. Ponti studied conducting with Giuseppe Sinopoli in Rome and has performed with Lorin Maazel, Yoel Levi, Klaus Tennstedt and Sir Colin Davis.  Prior to his conducting career, at age 17, he was performing with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. At age 19, he was the assistant principal trumpet to Bernard Adelstein of the Cleveland Orchestra.  As a member of the Eastern Brass Quintet he toured the USA and performed at the Casals Music Festival. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and has won numerous awards including prizewinner of the Mario Gusella International Conductors Competition in Pescara, Italy; Italian Man of the Year; and the Bernard Adelstein Prize from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

2008-2009 marks Ponti’s eighth season with the Austin Symphony where he will conduct their "Young People's Concerts," "High School Tours," and "Family Concerts.” He continues his affiliations with Italia Konzert Opera, Festival di Musica da Camera, Empire State Lyric Theatre, Rochester Sinfonietta, and Toscana Opera Festival.

This season Raffaele makes his debuts with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Utica Symphony, and will be conducting "La Boheme" at the Montreal Summer Opera Festival "Semaine Italienne de Montréal" for the National Congress of Italian-Canadians with singers from the Festival Puccini, Torre del Lago, Tuscany.

His opera triumphs with the Italian public have included performances of Tosca, IL Trovatore, Nabucco, Madama Butterfly, L'Elisir d'amore, Carmen, Aida, La Boheme and Rigoletto.

Ponti is passionate about music and conducting and that passion shines through when he steps onto the podium, a living embodiment of “Connecting People to the Symphony.”  A dynamic personality with excellent people skills makes him a favorite with everyone, orchestra, audience, board members and sponsors.  And his commitment to excellence is evident throughout his performances.  His deep knowledge of repertoire is reflected in outstanding programming.

Raffaele's engaging personality, passionate pursuit of musical excellence and elegant style reflect his extensive conducting experience in Europe and now in North America.  With an increasing artistic reputation built solidly on audience success, he now divides his time between Italy and the United States, conducting many of the world's finest orchestras and soloists.