# Ward Stare

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**Ward Stare** (Born August 27, 1982) is an American conductor. Stare was the [Music Director](/source/Music_Director) of the [Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Rochester_Philharmonic_Orchestra) from 2014 until 2021[1] and was also the Resident Conductor of the [Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra](/source/Saint_Louis_Symphony_Orchestra) from 2008 to 2012.[2] Stare is currently active as a guest conductor both domestically within the [United States](/source/United_States) as well as internationally. In addition Stare currently holds a position as a Distinguished Artist at the [Robert McDuffie](/source/Robert_McDuffie) Center for Strings at [Mercer University](/source/Mercer_University) in [Macon, Georgia](/source/Macon,_Georgia).[3]

## Biography

### Early life

Stare was born and raised in [Rochester, New York](/source/Rochester,_New_York). Stare was trained as a [trombonist](/source/Trombonist)[4] at the [Juilliard School](/source/Juilliard_School) in [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan).[5] At the age of 18, he was appointed principal [trombonist](/source/Trombonist) of the [Lyric Opera of Chicago](/source/Lyric_Opera_of_Chicago) and has performed as an orchestral musician with the [Chicago Symphony Orchestra](/source/Chicago_Symphony_Orchestra) and the [New York Philharmonic](/source/New_York_Philharmonic), among others.

### Career

In August 2007, Stare made his debut with the [Cleveland Orchestra](/source/Cleveland_Orchestra) at the [Blossom Music Center](/source/Blossom_Music_Center). Stare also made appearances with the Memphis Symphony, the [Florida Orchestra](/source/Florida_Orchestra), and the [Moscow Chamber Orchestra](/source/Moscow_Chamber_Orchestra) – both in Russia and on the orchestra's North American tour – as well as a special performance with the [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok) Symphony Orchestra as part of the [Orchestra](/source/Orchestra)'s "Great Artists of the World" series celebrating the 80th birthday of the [King of Thailand](/source/King_of_Thailand).

Stare spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons as a [League of American Orchestras](/source/League_of_American_Orchestras) Fellow with the [Los Angeles Philharmonic](/source/Los_Angeles_Philharmonic), and conducted concerts on the orchestra's Toyota Symphonies for Youth Series.[6] In the fall of 2008, Stare served as assistant conductor to [Sir Andrew Davis](/source/Sir_Andrew_Davis) at the [Lyric Opera of Chicago](/source/Lyric_Opera_of_Chicago) for their new production of [Alban Berg](/source/Alban_Berg)'s *[Lulu](/source/Lulu_(opera))*.

In 2009, Stare made his debut with the [Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester](/source/Deutsches_Symphonie-Orchester) [Berlin](/source/Berlin), as second conductor in Ives' Symphony No. 4, as well as his subscription debut with the [Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra](/source/Saint_Louis_Symphony_Orchestra).

In April 2009, Stare made his [Carnegie Hall](/source/Carnegie_Hall) debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.[7] Stare returned in June 2010, leading the [Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra](/source/Saint_Louis_Symphony_Youth_Orchestra) in their New York City debut at the [Riverside Church](/source/Riverside_Church).[8]

The 2010 and 2011 season Stare's returned to the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin as guest conductor, as well as his European [operatic](/source/Operatic) debut at the Norwegian Opera in Oslo, with a production of [Benjamin Britten](/source/Benjamin_Britten)'s *[The Rape of Lucretia](/source/The_Rape_of_Lucretia)*.[9]

Stare's 2012 and 2013 season was full of many new debuts, in April 2012 Stare conducted with the [London Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/London_Philharmonic_Orchestra) for the first time,[10] in December 2012 Stare conducted his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut with their production of [Hänsel und Gretel](/source/Hansel_and_Gretel_(opera)),[11] which led to a return the next two seasons for *[Die Fledermaus](/source/Die_Fledermaus)*[12] (2013) and *[Porgy and Bess](/source/Porgy_and_Bess)*[13] (2014) – both of which received high critical praise. Stare continues his ongoing relationship with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, returning regularly as a guest artist.

In 2014, Stare was appointed [Music Director](/source/Music_Director) for the [Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Rochester_Philharmonic_Orchestra),[14] the youngest in the organization's history.[15] Stare remained [Music Director](/source/Music_Director) until 2021.

Stare made his debut with the [Metropolitan Opera](/source/Metropolitan_Opera) as a guest conductor in December 2017. He led all nine of their performances of *[The Merry Widow](/source/The_Merry_Widow)*, with [Susan Graham](/source/Susan_Graham) performing the title role.[16]

In his role as Distinguished Artist and conductor at the McDuffie Center for Strings, Mr. Stare has worked alongside *[R.E.M.](/source/R.E.M.)* Bassist [Mike Mills](/source/Mike_Mills), *[Rolling Stones](/source/The_Rolling_Stones)* [Music Director](/source/Music_Director) [Chuck Leavell](/source/Chuck_Leavell), and violinist [Robert McDuffie](/source/Robert_McDuffie) in a special program entitled *A Night of Georgia Music*[17] and recorded the program for [PBS](/source/PBS) Broadcast in the spring of 2022. Stare is also featured as a conductor in the recording of [Mike Mills](/source/Mike_Mills)' *Concerto for Violin, Rock Band & String Orchestra* and [Philip Glass](/source/Philip_Glass) *Symphony No. 3*, released in 2016 on the Orange Mountain Music record label.[18]

In the 2021/22 season, Mr. Stare led the inaugural performances of the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra, a hybrid orchestra combining string students (and alums) from the McDuffie Center with the principal winds, brass, and percussion from the [Atlanta Symphony Orchestra](/source/Atlanta_Symphony_Orchestra). Mr. Stare is the conductor and [music director](/source/Music_director) of this ground-breaking new ensemble.[19]

## Honors and awards

Stare was the recipient of both the Robert J. Harth Conductor Prize in 2006 and the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2007 at the [Aspen Music Festival](/source/Aspen_Music_Festival).[20]

In November 2011 Stare was honored with Musician of the Month by [Musical America](/source/Musical_America).[21]

In 2019, Stare received a **[GRAMMY](/source/Grammy_Awards)** nomination for his recording, *American Rapture*, along with [Yolanda Kondonassis](/source/Yolanda_Kondonassis) for [Jennifer Higdon](/source/Jennifer_Higdon)’s *Harp Concerto*.[22]

## Recordings

- 2016 - *Mike Mills Concerto for Violin, Rock Band & String Orchestra* - Orange Mountain Music[23]
- 2019 - *American Rapture* with the [Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Rochester_Philharmonic_Orchestra) - Azica Records[24]

## References

1. ["Musician of the Month: Ward Stare"](http://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?archived=0&storyid=26114&categoryid=2). Retrieved November 2, 2011.

1. Allen, Matt (May 7, 2008). ["Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra names Ward Stare resident conductor"](http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/05/05/daily53.html). St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. ["Schedule"](https://www.wardstare.com/schedule)

1. ["Ward Stare Tenor Trombone Artist"](http://www.edwards-instruments.com/trombone/artists/artist.php?artist_id=48). Edwards Instruments. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. ["Juilliard Alumni News"](http://www.juilliard.edu/alumni/news/index.php#2000music). Juilliard. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. ["Conductor Ward Stare Makes Debut Appearance Leading Los Angeles Philharmonic"](http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/press/press-release/index.cfm?id=2129). Hollywood Bowl. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. ["Mozart, Satie, Hindemith and Gruber"](http://www.musicweb-international.com/sandh/2009/jan-jun09/slso0304.htm). Seen and Heard International. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. Schweitzer, Vivien (June 9, 2010). ["A Debut, an Anniversary and a Springboard for Young Players"](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/arts/music/10youth.html). *New York Times*. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. ["Opera: The Rape of Lucretia"](http://www.visitoslo.com/en/opera-the-rape-of-lucretia.49098.467005red6.tlp.html). Visit Oslo.

1. Seckerson, Edward (April 16, 2012). ["International Conductors' Academy of the Allianz Cultural Foundation, Royal Festival Hall"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/international-conductors-academy-of-the-allianz-cultural-foundation-royal-festival-hall-7647437.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved December 11, 2012.

1. ["Ward Stare returns to Lyric Opera, with a baton"](http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-1205-classical-stare-20121204,0,7904467.column). *Chicago Tribune*. Retrieved December 11, 2012.

1. ["You are being redirected..."](https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2014/3/Reviews/CHICAGO__Die_Fledermaus.html). *www.operanews.com*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. Rhein, John von. ["Lyric Opera revives a 'Porgy' of glory and grit"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-lyric-opera-chicago-porgy-bess-review-20141118-column.html). *chicagotribune.com*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. ["RPO Names Ward Stare as New Music Director"](http://www.rpo.org/n_507/RPO_Names_Ward_Stare_as_New_Music_Director/). Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

1. ["Ward Stare makes his Metropolitan Opera debut - News - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra"](http://www.rpo.org/n_586/Ward_Stare_makes_his_Metropolitan_Opera_debut/). *www.rpo.org*. Retrieved 25 February 2018.

1. ["Ward Stare makes his Metropolitan Opera debut - News - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra"](http://www.rpo.org/n_586/Ward_Stare_makes_his_Metropolitan_Opera_debut/). *www.rpo.org*. Retrieved 25 February 2018.

1. ["A Night of Georgia Music"](https://www.anightofgeorgiamusic.com/). *A Night of Georgia Music*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. ["Orange Mountain Music - Catalog"](http://www.orangemountainmusic.com/Catalog.htm). *www.orangemountainmusic.com*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. ["Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra"](https://mcduffie.mercer.edu/symphony). *McDuffie Center for Strings*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. ["Los Angeles Philharmonic Association"](http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/artist-detail.cfm?id=3053). Retrieved May 13, 2011.

1. ["Musician of the Month: Ward Stare"](http://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?archived=0&storyid=26114&categoryid=2). Retrieved November 2, 2011.

1. Doherty, Kevin. ["2020 Classical Music Grammy Nominees Breathe New Life Into The Genre"](https://www.capradio.org/144047). *www.capradio.org*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. Ayers, Mike (2016-09-19). ["R.E.M.'s Mike Mills Blends Classical and Rock on Upcoming Album"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-96965). *Wall Street Journal*. [ISSN 0099-9660](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0099-9660). Retrieved 2022-02-26.

1. Kushner, Daniel J. ["Album review: 'American Rapture'"](https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/album-review-american-rapture/Content?oid=10283282). *CITY News*. Retrieved 2022-02-26.

## External links

- [Ward Stare Official Website](http://wardstare.com)
- [Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Official website](http://www.rpo.org/)
- [Lyric Opera of Chicago Official Website](http://www.lyricopera.org)
- [Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Official Website](http://www.slso.org)
- [Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra](http://www.stlsymphony.org/cp/yo.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ward Stare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Stare) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Stare?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.