The Violin Channel reported that New York City’s Manhattan School of Music has appointed two new program chairs and three additional faculty members to its Orchestral Performance Program. These hires aim to strengthen graduate-level instruction and ensemble preparation for students pursuing careers as professional musicians.
Current faculty member David Krauss, principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, will serve as the new chair of the Orchestral Performance Program. Ethan Bensdorf, a trumpeter with the New York Philharmonic, assumes the role of Chair of Brass. Both musicians previously served on the program faculty. Joining them are violinist JeremÃas Sergiani-Velázquez and oboist John Upton, both principal players in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Additionally, violinist Julia Choi moves from the Precollege division to the College Classical Division to teach orchestral repertoire.
School leaders state that these appointments bring significant industry experience to the classroom. The Orchestral Performance Program, established in 1991, provides graduate students with individual instruction while they perform in ensembles like the MSM Chamber Sinfonia and MSM Symphony Orchestra. Administrators note that the accredited degree program offers intensive training in performance, repertoire, and career development, preparing students for the realities of working musician lives through mentorship from active industry professionals.
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