Julian Wachner

{{Short description|American classical composer (born 1969)}} {{Improve images|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Julian Wachner | honorific_suffix = | image = Crop Julian Wachner from BRIC festival The Hubble Cantata.png | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt =  | caption = Wachner in 2016 at the BRIC festival | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pronunciation = | birth_name =  | birth_date = 1969 | birth_place = | baptised =  | disappeared_date =  | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause =  | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | burial_place =  | burial_coordinates = | monuments = | nationality =  | other_names = | siglum = | citizenship =  | education = | alma_mater = Boston University (<small>BM</small>, <small>DMA</small>) | occupation = Choral conductor, composer, math teacher | years_active = | era = | employer = | organization = | agent =  | known_for = | notable_works =  | style = | height =  | television = | title =  | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | otherparty = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | criminal_charges = 10 counts of child sex abuse material and one count of possession of cocaine<ref name="IndyStar1">{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Ryan |title=Investigation into Indianapolis teacher, composer began over crypto transactions |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2025/08/25/court-docs-indianapolis-teacher-composer-sent-crypto-to-dark-net-site-julian-wachner-invent-learning/85814971007/ |access-date=1 November 2025 |agency=Indianapolis Star |date=August 25, 2025}}</ref> | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse =  | partner =  | children = | parents =  | mother =  | father =  | relatives = | family = | callsign =  | awards = | website = {{URL|https://www.julianwachner.com/}} | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }}  '''Julian James Wachner''' (born September 23, 1969) is an American choral conductor, composer and keyboardist. From 2011 to 2022, he served as the Director of Music and the Arts at Trinity Wall Street, conducting the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, the Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and NOVUS NY.<ref name="trinity">[https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/music Trinity Wall Street. "Music & Arts." Accessed July 1, 2015]</ref> In 2020, Wachner was appointed Professor of Music and the Arts at the General Theological Seminary in Chelsea.<ref>[https://www.julianwachner.com/ Wachner, Julian, "An open letter to the arts community"]</ref> His employment with Trinity Wall Street was terminated in 2022 due to unspecified objectionable conduct.<ref name="Firing">{{cite web |title=A Message from the Rector |url=https://trinitychurchnyc.org/stories-news/message-rector |website=Trinity Church |access-date=1 September 2025 |date=March 14, 2022}}</ref>

In August 2025, Wachner was arrested and charged with ten counts of possession of child sex abuse material and one count of cocaine possession, following an investigation that began after cryptocurrency transactions linked him to a dark web child sex abuse site.<ref>Adams, Matt. [https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/cryptocurrency-child-sex-abuse-material-and-a-confession-teacher-faces-11-charges/ "Cryptocurrency, child sex abuse material and a confession: Teacher faces 11 charges] ''Fox 59 News''.</ref><ref name=IndyStar1 /> At the time of his arrest, Wachner was working as a fourth grade teacher at Invent Learning Hub, a charter school in Indianapolis.<ref name=IndyStar1 /> He was also the conductor for Foundation Concerto Vocale, an American baroque musical foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Concerto Vocale Foundation |url=https://concertovocale.com/#Our%20Mission |website=Concerto Vocale |publisher=Concerto Vocale Foundation |date=26 August 2025|access-date=1 September 2025 }}</ref> Following the charges, the Concerto Vocale Foundation terminated its relationship with Wachner.<ref name=":1">Jacobs, Julia. [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/arts/music/julian-wachner-charged-child-sex-abuse-imagery.html "Ousted Maestro Charged in Child Sex Abuse Imagery Case] ''The New York Times'', August 26, 2025.</ref> The German boys' choir Tölzer Knabenchor, with which Wachner had recently been associated, also publicly distanced itself from Wachner following his arrest and urged parents and choirboys to have no contact with him.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Tölzer Knabenchor distanziert sich von Julian Wachner |url=https://backstageclassical.com/toelzer-knabenchor-distanziert-sich-von-julian-wachner/ | language=de}}</ref>

==Biography==

Julian Wachner was born in 1969 in Hollywood, CA into a musical household. His mother, Mary Spire, was a pianist, and his former stepfather, Robert Cole, was a conductor. Wachner began cello and piano lessons at age 4 at the University of Southern California, and from age 9 to 13, Wachner studied composition in New York at the Saint Thomas Choir School under Gerre Hancock.<ref name="polymath">Anne Midgette. "A polymath in D.C.: The long ascendancy of conductor-composer Julian Wachner." November 14, 2014. Accessed July 2, 2015.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/a-polymath-in-dc-the-long-ascendancy-of-conductor-composer-julian-wachner/2014/11/12/698f1f5e-69ee-11e4-a31c-77759fc1eacc_story.html]</ref><ref name="naxos">[http://www.naxos.com/person/Julian_Wachner/102506.htm Naxos. "Julian Wachner." Accessed July 6, 2015]</ref>

Wachner later attended the Boston University College of Fine Arts, where he studied with Lukas Foss, Theodore Antoniou, David Hoose and Marjorie Merryman.<ref>[http://www.zwieback.com/bbe/arti.html Boston Bach Ensemble. "The Artists." Accessed July 1, 2015. Archived]</ref> While a student there, he was appointed the University Organist and Choirmaster at Marsh Chapel.<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/chapel/music/ Boston University Marsh Chapel. "Music." Accessed July 1, 2015]</ref> He graduated in 1996 with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in composition<ref>Wachner, Julian James. "Lamentations" [original composition]. DMA thesis. Boston University, 1996. Proquest no. 9623964.</ref> and orchestral conducting and taught as an Assistant Professor of Sacred Music at BU's School of Theology. From 1999 to 2002, he directed the Young Artists Composition Program at the Tanglewood Institute.<ref name="naxos" />

During his tenure at BU, Wachner also headed multiple Boston-area arts institutions. In 1995, he and Peter Watchorn founded the Boston Bach Ensemble, a period instrument orchestra and choir. Their recording of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, released in 2001, helped launch Watchorn's Musica Omnia label in 1998.<ref>[http://www.musicaomnia.org/artist/the-boston-bach-ensemble/ Musica Omnia. "Boston Bach Ensemble." Accessed July 1, 2015]</ref> Wachner also served as Director of the Back Bay Chorale, releasing a CD of works by Benjamin Britten with the ensemble in 2001.<ref>Back Bay Chorale. "About Us: The Chorale." Accessed July 6, 2015.[http://www.backbaychorale.org/about/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512162902/http://www.backbaychorale.org/about/|date=2015-05-12}}</ref> From 1996 to 2006, he was Director of the Providence Singers in Providence, RI.<ref>The Providence Singers. "About the Providence Singers." Accessed July 1, 2015.[http://www.providencesingers.org/About06/index.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424050602/http://www.providencesingers.org/About06/index.php|date=2015-04-24}}</ref> In 1999 he conducted the premier performance of ''The Magdalene Passion'', by composer Elaine Bearer,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pathology.unm.edu/faculty/faculty/ebearer.html|title=Elaine L. Bearer, M.D., Ph.D., FAAAS, FCAP |website=Department of Pathology | publisher=The University of New Mexico|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-10}}</ref> with the Providence Singers,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.providencesingers.org/Concerts06/Commissions.php|title=Commissions of the Providence Singers|website=www.providencesingers.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-10|archive-date=2018-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044536/http://www.providencesingers.org/Concerts06/Commissions.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> an hour-long oratorio with five soloists, chorus, organ and chamber orchestra.

Wachner moved to Montreal in 2001 to become an associate professor at McGill University's Schulich School of Music, a post he held until 2011. As associate professor, Wachner served as the principal conductor of Opera McGill and occasionally conducted the McGill Symphony and Contemporary Music Ensemble. He also founded and directed the Schulich Singers, a chamber choir that performs repertoire spanning all musical periods.<ref>[https://www.mcgill.ca/music/ensembles/choral/schulich-singers McGill University. "Schulich Singers." Accessed July 6, 2015]</ref> While in Montreal, Wachner also founded and directed the Bach-Academie de Montréal (now the Montreal Bach Festival) and served as Director of Music of the Presbyterian Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul.<ref name="naxos" />

In 2008, Wachner returned to the United States to direct the Washington Chorus.<ref name="polymath" /> The Chorus released a CD of Christmas carols in 2010, featuring several arrangements by Wachner himself.<ref>Naxos Records. "Christmas with The Washington Chorus." Accessed July 6, 2015.[http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=DSL-92117]</ref> Under Wachner's direction, the Chorus also performed with the Rolling Stones in the final concert of their "50 and Counting" tour in 2013.<ref>Rolling Stones. "Verizon Center, Washington DC: June 24 setlist." June 25, 2013. Accessed July 6, 2015.[http://www.rollingstones.com/2013/06/25/verizon-center-washington-dc-june-24-setlist/]</ref>

Wachner was appointed Director of Music and the Arts at Trinity Wall Street in 2011, placing him at the podium of both the church's choir and baroque orchestra. In his first season there, he established NOVUS NY, a contemporary music ensemble.<ref name="trinity" /> His 2012 recording of Handel's ''Israel in Egypt'' with the Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.<ref name="grammy">Billboard. "2013 Grammy Awards: Full List of Nominees." Accessed July 1, 2015.[http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1483761/2013-grammy-awards-full-list-of-nominees]</ref> Wachner recorded five albums with the ensembles of Trinity Wall Street, primarily for the Musica Omnia label. From 2008 to 2017, he served as the Director of The Washington Chorus.<ref>Anne Midgette. "Wachner to Head Washington Chorus." ''The Washington Post.'' April 1, 2008. Accessed July 1, 2015.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/31/AR2008033102466.html]</ref><ref>Anne Midgette. "Wachner to leave Washington Chorus after 9 seasons." ''The Washington Post.'' February 24, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2022.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/wachner-to-leave-washington-chorus-after-9-seasons/2016/02/24/142698f2-db22-11e5-891a-4ed04f4213e8_story.html]</ref> In March 2018, Wachner was named Artistic Director of the Grand Rapids Bach Festival, an affiliate of the Grand Rapids Symphony, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<ref>Danielle Nelson. "Bach Festival hires Artistic Director." ''Grand Rapids Business Journal.'' March 16, 2018.[http://www.grbj.com/articles/90245-bach-festival-hires-artistic-director.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090248/http://www.grbj.com/articles/90245-bach-festival-hires-artistic-director.html|date=2018-04-05}}</ref>

As a guest conductor, he has led ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Juilliard Opera, and San Francisco Opera, and has participated in festivals including the Spoleto Festival USA, Glimmerglass Festival, Lincoln Center Festival, BAM Next Wave Festival, and the New York Philharmonic Biennial.<ref>Sources:

* David Patrick Stearns. "'Messiah' with Phila. Orchestra, Singers." ''Philadelphia Inquirer''. December 16, 2008. Accessed August 6, 2015.[https://web.archive.org/web/20151223041625/http://articles.philly.com/2008-12-16/news/25243732_1_handel-s-messiah-soloists-philadelphia-orchestra] * James R. Oestreich. "Rethinking Further War." ''New York Times''. November 21, 2013. Accessed August 7, 2015.[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/arts/music/juilliard-opera-and-juilliard415-perform-radamisto.html] * Janos Gereben. "Conductor Switch for Partenope." ''San Francisco Classical Voice''. September 23, 2014. Accessed August 6, 2015.[https://www.sfcv.org/article/conductor-switch-for-partenope] * Richard Dyer. "Classical Notes: Superconductor." ''Boston Globe''. May 18, 2001. Accessed August 21, 2015. Archived [http://www.julianwachner.com/assets/uploads/press/superconductivity_2001.jpg]{{Dead link|date=December 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} * Anthony Tommasini. "Four Trips to Hell and Back at the Opera." ''New York Times''. August 7, 2007. Accessed August 6, 2015.[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/arts/music/07glim.html?_r=0] * Tommasini. "Audience Enters a Sightless World, Where Listening Becomes a Lifeline." ''New York Times''. July 10, 2013. Accessed August 7, 2015.[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/arts/music/lera-auerbachs-opera-the-blind-at-lincoln-center-festival.html?_r=0] * Brooklyn Academy of Music. "21c Liederabend." Accessed August 7, 2015.[http://www.bam.org/music/2013/21cliederabend] * Mark Swed. "NY Phil Biennial laudable, yet in need of curatorial vision." ''Los Angeles Times''. June 5, 2014. Accessed August 6, 2015.[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-ny-phil-biennial-notebook-20140605-column.html]</ref> As a composer, he has published over 60 musical works (see below), many of which are sacred works for chorus.<ref>[http://ecspublishing.com/composers/w/wachner ECS Publishing. "Wachner, Julian." Accessed August 6, 2015]</ref> His complete choral works to date were released in two volumes by Naxos Records in 2010 and 2014. Wachner is the author, with Kevin J. Moroney, of ''Psalms for All People: An Inclusive-Language Resource for Praying and Singing'' (Church Publishing) {{ISBN|9781640655614}}. The book was immediately withdrawn by its publisher following Wachner's firing from his church and seminary positions.

In 2025, Concerto Vocale, an American foundation that produces historically informed performances of the works of J. S. Bach, appointed Wachner as a director.<ref>Lebrecht, Norman. [https://slippedisc.com/2025/03/exclusive-sacked-juilliard-prof-is-back-on-track/ "Exclusive: Sacked Juilliard prof is back on track"] ''Slipped Disc'', March 3, 2025.</ref> Following his 2025 arrest and charges, Concerto Vocale terminated this relationship.

==Controversies and legal issues==

On February 28, 2022, Mary Poole, a former employee of the Juilliard School, publicly alleged that Wachner had "groped her and kissed her" during a 2014 music festival; she had hired Wachner for a directing job. Wachner has denied these allegations. Following these accusations, on March 1, 2022, Wachner was placed on leave by Trinity Wall Street. The foregoing details were published in The New York Times on March 13, 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hernández |first=Javier C. |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Amid Inquiry, Trinity Church's Conductor is Put on Leave |language=en-US |volume=171 |page=C5 |work=New York Times |issue=59362 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/arts/music/julian-wachner-trinity-church.html |access-date=April 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The next day, Trinity fired Wachner,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernández |first=Javier C. |date=March 15, 2022 |title=Trinity Church Fires Conductor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/14/arts/music/trinity-church-julian-wachner.html |website=New York Times |page=C2}}</ref> without having concluded its investigation of the 2014 allegations, because of "recent information that Julian has otherwise conducted himself in a manner that is inconsistent with our expectations of anyone who occupies a leadership position."<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://trinitywallstreet.org/stories-news/message-rector | title=A Message from the Director | publisher=Trinity Church Wall Street | date=14 March 2022 | access-date=2024-08-09}}</ref> On March 14, 2022, the General Theological Seminary removed all mentions of him from its website.<ref>[https://www.gts.edu/ General Theological Seminary]</ref>

On March 18, 2022, Wachner posted his version of the 2014 incident at his website, denying that any nonconsensual activity had occurred.<ref>{{cite web | author=Salazar, Francisco| title=Julian Wachner Releases Statement Regarding Sexual Harassment Allegations | url=https://operawire.com/julian-wachner-releases-statement-regarding-sexual-harassment-allegations/ | work=OperaWire | date=2022-03-20 | accessdate=2024-08-09}}</ref> He later deleted the post. On December 22, 2022, Wachner sued the Juilliard School for defamation, arguing that the school had never investigated the allegation against him and made false statements about him.<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Complaint, Petition: Julian Wachner v. The Juilliard School | url=https://trellis.law/case/36061/160931-2022/julian-wachner-v-julliard-school | work=Trellis | date=2022-12-22 | accessdate=2024-08-09}}</ref> The case was dismissed with prejudice by the New York Supreme Court.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}

=== 2025 arrest and charges === On August 20, 2025, Wachner was booked into the Marion County Jail (Indianapolis, Indiana) on preliminary charges of child exploitation and child pornography.<ref>Hedrick, Ryan. [https://wibc.com/711097/indy-teacher-composer-arrested-on-child-exploitation-charges/ "Indy Teacher, Composer Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges"] WIBC Indianapolis Mobile News</ref> Two days later, he was charged with one count of possession of child pornography.<ref>Salazar, Francisco. [https://operawire.com/julian-wachner-arrested-on-child-pornography-accusations/ "Julian Wachner Arrested on Child Pornography Accusations"] ''OperaWire''.</ref> Prosecutors later filed ten counts of possessing child sexual abuse material depicting children younger than 12 years old and one count of cocaine possession, following an investigation that began after cryptocurrency transactions linked him to a dark web child sex abuse site.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Tsioulcas |first=Anastasia |date=2025-08-28 |title=Conductor Julian Wachner charged with possession of child sex abuse material |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/08/28/nx-s1-5509937/conductor-julian-wachner-arrested |access-date=2025-08-29 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> A search of his laptop revealed a video of child sexual abuse displayed in full screen and other recently accessed files, with forensic analysis ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |title=Investigation into Indianapolis teacher, composer began over crypto transactions |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2025/08/25/court-docs-indianapolis-teacher-composer-sent-crypto-to-dark-net-site-julian-wachner-invent-learning/85814971007/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}</ref> Detectives reported that Wachner admitted to downloading and later deleting images obtained from the dark web over several years,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-26 |title='Horrifying and unimaginable' {{!}} Indianapolis conductor, composer admits to using cryptocurrency to buy child porn according to court docs |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/indianapolis-conductor-composer-facing-10-charges-after-allegedly-using-cryptocurrency-company-to-buy-child-porn-julian-wachner-robinhood/531-b6bd4bb0-5a8c-49f7-bbf3-543a3ea9d9d6 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=wthr.com |language=en-US}}</ref> involving reportedly hundreds of transactions. They also stated that he purchased material depicting minors between the ages of 1 and 16, with an emphasis on those between 6 and 13.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salazar |first=David |date=2025-08-28 |title=New Information Revealed Regarding Julian Wachner's Arrest for Possession of Child Pornography |url=https://operawire.com/new-information-revealed-regarding-julian-wachners-arrest-for-possession-of-child-pornography/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=OperaWire |language=en-US}}</ref> Wachner later pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $15,000 bond. A jury trial date had been set for October 20, 2025 and was moved to December 15, 2025 at Wachner's request; an October 6, 2025 "Judicial Notice of Media Request for Cameras in the Court" was denied on October 6, 2025. After another continuance was filed by Wachner, the jury trial was rescheduled for February 17, 2026 before the Honorable Jeffrey L. Marchal, presiding judge of Marion Superior Court, in Case Number 49D31-2508-F4-026083. Wachner requested and was granted two more continuances, which rescheduled the trial date again to May 11, 2026, and then, most recently, to July 20, 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=State of Indiana v. JULIAN WACHNER |url=https://public.courts.in.gov/ |website=IN.gov |publisher=Indiana Courts |access-date=21 May 2026}}</ref>

Prior to his arrest, Wachner had been working as a fourth-grade math teacher at a local charter school, Invent Learning Hub. The school released the following statement to NPR:<blockquote>"Effective immediately, Julian Wachner is no longer an employee of Invent Learning Hub. We want to be transparent with our community: at no time were our employees or board members aware that Mr. Wachner was under investigation, nor did we have knowledge of the actions that led to this situation. As part of our standard hiring process, we conducted thorough background checks in accordance with our established policies. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority."<ref name=":2" /> </blockquote>Wachner's most recent musical activity had been with the American foundation Concerto Vocale. Following the arrest, Foundation Concerto Vocale suspended its relationship with Wachner. He was also scheduled to lead performances of Handel's Messiah with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in December 2025, which has subsequently been scrubbed from the orchestra's website.<ref name=":2" /> The orchestra has not commented on its decision to hire, or subsequently fire, Wachner.

==Composition==

===Sacred music=== Many of Wachner's earlier published works were liturgical in purpose, written during his tenure as University Organist and Choirmaster at Marsh Chapel in the early 1990s.<ref>Richard Dyer. "Composer, conductor Wachner to exit Boston." ''The Boston Globe''. July 13, 2001. Accessed August 21, 2015. Archived [http://www.julianwachner.com/assets/uploads/press/wachner_to_exit_boston_2001.jpg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081324/http://www.julianwachner.com/assets/uploads/press/wachner_to_exit_boston_2001.jpg|date=2016-03-04}}</ref> He first came to public attention with ''Canticles'' (1991, revised 1994), a work for chorus and orchestra written as a response to the Gulf War and as a companion piece to Fauré's ''Requiem''. Consisting of five movements, the work features settings of Biblical texts that bookend three poems by Shelli Jankowski-Smith about the atrocities of war .<ref>Providence Singers. "Through War and Peace." November 8, 2003. Accessed August 21, 2015 [http://www.providencesingers.org/Concerts06/Season03-04/Nov03Concert.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118222209/http://www.providencesingers.org/Concerts06/Season03-04/Nov03Concert.html|date=2008-11-18}}</ref>

These Biblical themes were later expanded upon in his first symphony, titled ''Incantations and Lamentations'', which was commissioned and premiered by the Back Bay Chorale in 2001. Like ''Canticles'', ''Incantations and Lamentations'' is a work in five movements for chorus and orchestra. In his program notes, theologian Wesley Wildman writes that the work concerns the "superficial opposition between worship and indictment of God ... and their breathtaking merger in the context of the Biblical story of the Babylonian exile."<ref>Ellen Pfeifer. "Back Bay Chorale ignites fervor of Wachner's works." ''The Boston Globe''. May 25, 2001. Accessed August 21, 2015. Archived [http://www.julianwachner.com/assets/uploads/press/bbc_ignites_fervor_2001.jpg]{{Dead link|date=December 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> This analysis is echoed in Matthew Guerrieri's liner notes for the Naxos recording of the Symphony: "It undercuts the confidence of Psalm 103 ('I will praise the Lord as long as I live') with the despair and frustration of Psalm 137 ('by the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept')." ''Canticles'' and Symphony No. 1 were later recorded by the Trinity Wall Street Choir and NOVUS NY and included in ''Complete Choral Works, Vol. 2'', released on Naxos in 2014.<ref name="guerrieri">Matthew Guerrieri. ''Wachner: Choral Music, Vol. 2'' Naxos. Accessed August 21, 2015 [http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=9.70223-25&catNum=9.70223-25&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English#]{{Dead link|date=December 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

===Secular music===

Outside of the realm of sacred music, Wachner has also composed secular song cycles, including ''Sometimes I Feel Alive'' (1998) and ''Rilke Songs'' (2001). The former, which Wachner composed at the Tanglewood Music Center while conducting the BUTI Young Artists Chorus, sets three erotic poems by E. E. Cummings: "there is a moon sole", "as is the sea marvelous" and "somewhere I have never travelled". The latter sets six poems about animals by Rainer Maria Rilke: "Die Gazelle", "Der Panther", "Die Flamingos", "Der Schwan", "Schwarze Katze" and "Das Einhorn". Both works were recorded by the Elora Festival Singers and included in ''Complete Choral Works, Vol. 1'', released on Naxos in 2010.<ref>Mark J. Estren. "On CD: Julian Wachner." ''The Washington Post''. June 24, 2010. Accessed September 11, 2015.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120229094756/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-classical-beat/2010/06/on_cd_julian_wachner.html]</ref><ref name="wachner">Julian Wachner. ''Wachner: Complete Choral Works, Vol. 1''. Naxos. Accessed August 21, 2015.[http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.559607&catNum=559607&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English# Wachner, J., "About this Recording"]{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

While director of Opera McGill, Wachner premiered ''Evangeline Revisited'', an opera in two acts based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's ''Evangeline''. Written to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 1755 Expulsion of the Acadians, the opera features a French libretto by Université de Montréal professor Alexis Nouss and blends multiple musical styles, including jazz, blues, Puccini-esque opera, fugue and cabaret.<ref>Arthur Kaptainis. "Julian Wachner." ''Opera Canada''. November 2005. Accessed September 14, 2015. Archived [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Julian+Wachner.-a0140513486]</ref> The role of Evangeline is split between two sopranos: one who represents Longfellow's vision, and one who serves as a contemporary commentator.<ref>Richard Dyer. "Wachner's 'Evangeline' is colorful and assured." ''The Boston Globe''. January 6, 2006. Accessed September 1, 2015. Archived [http://www.julianwachner.com/press/P220]</ref> The opera received its US premiere at New York City Opera's VOX Festival in 2010.<ref>Frank J. Oteri. "Julian Wachner: Transcending the Sacred and the Profane." ''New Music Box''. January 21, 2015. Accessed September 1, 2015.[http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/julian-wachner-transcending-the-sacred-and-the-profane/]</ref>

''Come, My Dark-Eyed One'', commissioned and premiered by the Back Bay Chorale in 2009, weaves together poems by John Clare, Emily Dickinson and Sara Teasdale in a libretto compiled by soprano Marie-Ève Munger.<ref name="guerrieri" /><ref>David Weininger. "Wachner issues Boston-born compositions on CD." ''The Boston Globe''. August 28, 2014. Accessed September 11, 2015.[https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/08/28/wachner-issues-boston-born-compositions/2UQii1zxoL9xuDvo5XaC3H/story.html]</ref> Originally a companion piece for Brahms's ''Ein Deutsches Requiem'', the work charts the "life and death of two lovers" in eight movements.<ref>Julian Wachner. "Notes on Come, My Dark-Eyed One." ''Wachner: Choral Music, Vol. 2'' Naxos. Accessed September 12, 2015.[http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=9.70223-25&catNum=9.70223-25&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English#]{{Dead link|date=December 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In 2012, Wachner collaborated with visual artist Erika Harrsch to create a work for The River to River Festival. The resulting installation, titled ''Inverted Sky'', featured a solo flute score with live electronic processing. This accompanied a collection of kites built from various world currencies that were released into the air in time with the music.<ref>VisionIntoArt. "Erika Harrsch's Inverted Sky." ''VisionIntoArt''. Accessed September 12, 2015.[http://visionintoart.com/works/erika-harrschs-inverted-sky/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011050635/http://visionintoart.com/works/erika-harrschs-inverted-sky/|date=2014-10-11}}</ref>

===Style===

Wachner has described himself "[a]s a composer-conductor perched between the Apollonian world of church music and the academy and the Dionysian world of opera and the stage." In the liner notes of his ''Complete Choral Works, Vol. 1'', he writes of this duality:

<blockquote>For me, I always found this a difficult decision to make, and thus found myself living and working in the no-man’s land between pure post-Impressionism and post-Expressionism—composing music that was criticized as "too simple" from one camp and "too complex" from the other. As I have always considered my compositional process and philosophy to be aligned with the assimilators of previous eras, (Bach, Stravinsky and Foss come to mind)—I have found equal inspiration from strict form or unbridled chaos; tonality, modality or post-tonality; and lyricism, pointillism or minimalism—I find it crucial to have as sweeping a palette of creative possibilities at my disposal as possible, believing that this desire is no different from any composer of the past.<ref name="wachner" /></blockquote>

Speaking years before his sexual misconduct came to public attention, Beth Morrison, an opera producer and longtime collaborator of Wachner's, says of his compositional style: "I see his work as very Americana, firmly following in the steps of Copland and Bernstein."<ref>Corinne Ramey. "Trinity Wall Street's Music Director Considers Himself a 'Composer Who Conducts.'" ''Wall Street Journal''. August 11, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2015.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/trinity-wall-streets-music-director-julian-wachner-considers-himself-a-composer-who-conducts-1407781427]</ref> His creative output has also been noted for its multifaceted nature, as in Guerrieri's notes: "Wachner's eclecticism is uncommonly deep, a reflection of his multivalent career: a virtuoso organist, an omnivorous conductor, an exploratory composer; a church musician with a dramatic sense of the sacred and a concert-hall veteran with a reverence for the dramatic."<ref name="guerrieri" />

==Awards==

* 2011 — ASCAP Alice Parker Award for Adventurous Programming (with The Washington Chorus)<ref>ASCAP. "ASCAP 'Adventurous Programming' Awards Presented at Chorus America Conference in San Francisco." June 10, 2011. Accessed July 1, 2015.[http://www.ascap.com/press/2011/0610_AdventurousProgramming.aspx]</ref> * 2013 — ''Nominated'', Grammy Awards: Best Choral Performance (for ''Israel in Egypt'' with the Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra)<ref name="grammy" />

==Discography==

This is a list of recordings by Julian Wachner, either as composer or conductor.

{| class="wikitable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Composer ! scope="col" | Conductor ! scope="col" | Artist(s) ! scope="col" | Label |- | 2000 | Julian Wachner: Chamber Music | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Boston Sinfonietta | ARSIS Audio |- | 2000 | Julian Wachner: Sacred Music | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Boston Bach Ensemble | ARSIS Audio |- | 2001 | J. S. Bach: Weihnachts-Oratorium | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Boston Bach Ensemble / Rob Pitcher, evangelist / Anne Harley, soprano / Elizabeth Anker, alto / Thomas Gregg, tenor / Max van Egmond, baritone | Musica Omnia |- | 2001 | The Company of Heaven: Works by Benjamin Britten | {{no}} | {{yes}} | The Back Bay Chorale and Chamber Orchestra / The Marsh Chapel Choir / Cathleen Ellis & Anne Harley, sopranos / William Hite, tenor / Peter Krasinski, organ / Phyllis Hoffman & Peter Watchorn, narrators | ARSIS Audio |- | 2002 | The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Charles Ansbacher, conductor / Moscow Symphony Orchestra / Sen. Edward Kennedy, narrator | Landmarks Recordings<ref>Boston Landmarks Orchestra. "Landmarks Recordings." Accessed July 1, 2015. {{cite web|url=http://www.landmarksorchestra.org/landmarks_recordings.html |title=Landmarks Recordings - Boston Landmarks Orchestra |accessdate=2015-07-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617034329/http://www.landmarksorchestra.org/landmarks_recordings.html |archivedate=2015-06-17 }}</ref> |- | 2002 | Somewhere I Have Never Traveled | {{yes}} | {{no}} | David Hodgkins, conductor / Coro Allegro | Coro Allegro<ref>Coro Allegro. "Somewhere I Have Never Traveled." Accessed July 1, 2015. [http://www.coroallegro.org/cds/somewhere-i-have-never-travelled/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801190706/http://www.coroallegro.org/cds/somewhere-i-have-never-travelled/|date=2015-08-01}}</ref> |- | 2003 | Lukas Foss: Griffelkin | {{no}} | {{no}} | Gil Rose, conductor / Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Julian Wachner, choral director | Chandos Records<ref>[https://www.chandos.net/details06.asp?CNumber=CHAN%2010067 Chandos. "Foss: Griffelkin." Accessed July 1, 2015]</ref> |- | 2010 | Christmas with the Washington Chorus | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Washington Chorus / Whitman Choir / National Capital Brass and Percussion Ensemble | Dorian Recordings |- | 2010 | Julian Wachner: Complete Works for Chorus, Vol. 1 | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Noel Edison, conductor / Elora Festival Singers | Naxos |- | 2011 | J. S. Bach: Complete Motets | {{no}} | {{yes}} | The Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra | Musica Omnia |- | 2012 | Handel: Israel in Egypt | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Trinity Baroque Orchestra | Musica Omnia |- | 2012 | Elena Ruehr: Averno | {{no}} | {{yes}} | The Trinity Choir with Novus NY / Marguerite Krull, soprano / Stephen Salters, baritone | Avie Records<ref>[http://www.avie-records.com/releases/averno/ Avie Records. "Averno." Accessed July 1, 2015]</ref> |- | 2012 | Julian Wachner: Triptych | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Orchestre Métropolitain | ATMA Classique<ref>[http://www.atmaclassique.com/En/Albums/AlbumInfo.aspx?AlbumID=1439 ATMA Classique. "Julian Wachner: Triptych." Accessed July 1, 2015]</ref> |- | 2014 | Julian Wachner: Symphony No. 1 / Incantations and Lamentations | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Novus NY / The Choir of Trinity Wall Street / Majestic Brass Quintet / Jessica Muirhead, soprano / Chris Burchett, baritone | Musica Omnia / Naxos |- | 2014 | Ralf Yusuf Gawlick: Missa gentis humanae | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Sarah Brailey and Linda Jones, sopranos / Luthien Brackett and Melissa Attebury, altos / Steven Caldicott and Timothy Hodges, tenors / Thomas McCargar and Jonathan Woody, basses | Musica Omnia |- | 2015 | Paola Prestini: Oceanic Verses | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Helga Davis, vocals / Christopher Burchett, baritone / Hila Plitmann, soprano / Claudio Prima, vocals & accordion / The Choir of Trinity Wall Street / Decoda | VIA Records<ref>VisionIntoArt. "Oceanic Verses." Accessed July 1, 2015.[http://visionintoart.com/works/oceanic-verses/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516201037/http://visionintoart.com/works/oceanic-verses/|date=2015-05-16}}</ref> |}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Sources=== * ARSIS Audio, "Complete Catalog" [http://arsisaudio.com/catCompleteN.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811013421/http://arsisaudio.com/catCompleteN.html |date=2015-08-11 }} * Musica Omnia, "Julian Wachner" [http://www.musicaomnia.org/artist/julian-wachner/] * Naxos, "Julian Wachner" [http://www.naxos.com/person/Julian_Wachner/102506.htm] * ECS Publishing, "Wachner, Julian" [http://ecspublishing.com/composers/w/wachner]

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.julianwachner.com}} * {{AllMusic | id= julian-wachner-mn0001676357 | label= Julian Wachner}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wachner, Julian}} Category:1969 births Category:20th-century American classical composers Category:20th-century American male composers Category:20th-century American conductors (music) Category:21st-century American Episcopalians Category:21st-century American classical composers Category:21st-century American conductors (music) Category:American choral conductors Category:American male conductors (music) Category:American male classical composers Category:American performers of Christian music Category:Anglican religious workers Category:Classical composers of church music Category:Boston University College of Fine Arts alumni Category:Living people Category:Academic staff of McGill University Category:Musicians from Hollywood, Los Angeles Category:Pupils of Lukas Foss Category:Classical musicians from California Category:21st-century American male composers