Alexander Mickelthwate

Alexander Mickelthwate (born 2 June 1970 in Frankfurt,[1] West Germany) is a German-born conductor who is the current music director and principal conductor of Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

Mickelthwate in 2022 at the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center in Oklahoma City.

Early life and education

He is one of three sons in his family, and studied piano and cello as a youth.[2] He studied piano performance and conducting in Karlsruhe, Germany, and participated in international conducting courses in Austria and France. He took additional studies at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

Career

Mickelthwate served as Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony through the 2003–2004 season. During his tenure there, he founded the new music ensemble Bent Frequency. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was promoted to Associate Conductor for the 2006–2007 season and concluded his Los Angeles tenure in August 2007.[3]

In February 2006, Mickelthwate was named the music director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), and took up the post in September 2006, with an initial contract of 3 years.[4][5] In December 2008, Mickelthwate extended his contract with the orchestra through the 2012 season.[6] His Winnipeg contract was afterward extended through the 2015–2016 season.[7] He concluded his Winnipeg tenure at the close of the 2017–2018 season.[8]

In November 2016, Mickelthwate first guest-conducted the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. In May 2017, the orchestra named him its next music director, and he became music director beginning with the 2018–2019 season.[9][10]

In March 2022, Mickelthwate accepted the position as Music Director of the Bear Valley Music Festival.[11]

Personal life

Mickelthwate and the fashion designer Abigail Camp married in 1997, and they have two sons.[12]

References
  1. "Mickelthwate Facts". Winnipeg Free Press. 2006-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  2. Morley Walker (2006-09-07). "A podium, not a pedastal". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  3. Morley Walker (2007-05-03). "Balancing enduring, edgy tops Mickelthwate's agenda". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  4. Morley Walker (2006-02-02). "Winnipeg 'lucky to have' new man with baton". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  5. Morley Walker (2006-09-02). "New WSO music director ready to pick up baton". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  6. Morley Walker (2009-01-17). "You wanna be a conductor? Learn how to act the part". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  7. "WSO in the black for fifth year in a row". Winnipeg Free Press. 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  8. Gordon Sinclair Jr (2017-05-24). "A bittersweet note". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  9. Powell, Kimberly (November 30, 2018). "Performance Oklahoma: Joel Levine Farewell concert--OKC Philharmonic". Public Radio Tulsa. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  10. McDonnell, Brandy (October 28, 2018). "Maestro Joel Levine prepares to conduct his delayed farewell concert with Oklahoma City Philharmonic". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  11. "New Music Director Announced". Bear Valley Music Festival. March 26, 2022.
  12. Morley Walker (2007-09-08). "WSO music director will rest his baton in Osborne Village". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
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