Todd Goodman, Composer-in-residence
Bruce
Lauffer
Music
Director / Conductor
Maestro Lauffer is currently in his second season as Music Director and Conductor of the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra. He is also Music Director and Conductor of the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra and the Mon-Valley Youth Orchestra. This past July, Mr. Lauffer was appointed the Director of Music for the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. Maestro Lauffer is the new Music Director and Conductor of the Beaver Valley Philharmonic, which will be in-residence at LPPAC.
Maestro Lauffer earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from West Virginia University where he studied conducting with Don Wilcox, Donald Portnoy, and Jerry Goldsmith. He received his Master of Music Degree in 1987 from Baylor University. While at Baylor University, Mr. Lauffer studied conducting with Michael Haithcock and Gary Sousa and composition with Richard Willis. In the spring of 1993, Mr. Lauffer began doctoral studies at Penn State University. Private study in conducting has been with the internationally renowned master teacher Elizabeth A. H. Green; Maestro Louis Lane (former Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and former Music Director of the Dallas Symphony), and Maestro Larry Rachleff (Music Director of The Rhode Island Philharmonic). In May of 2007, Mr. Lauffer is one of ten conductors in the country to serve as a conducting intern with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Jorge Mester. Additional studies in conducting have been with Frederick Fennell, H. Robert Reynolds, Carl Topilow, Craig Kirchoff, Eugene Corporan, Alan McMurray, and William Wakefield.
In the fall of 2002, Maestro Lauffer was appointed the Music Director and Conductor of The Royal Sylvan Philharmonic. The orchestra has performed at the world class Nemacolin Woodlands Spa and Resort, as well as throughout the Pittsburgh area. In 2004, the Philharmonic was commissioned to record a compact disc with composer/pianist, Jace Vek, (reached #5 in the world on New Age/Neoclassical Music in March 2005). The Royal Sylvan Philharmonic and Maestro Lauffer were featured in a concert of the music of jazz legend, Delsey McKay. In March of 2004, Irish singer & television personality, Cahal Dunne will be performed with the Royal Sylvan Philharmonic in a series of concerts in the Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown, and Uniontown areas. These concerts were all greeted with standing ovations.
Maestro Lauffer is also a popular Guest Conductor with The Edgewood Symphony Orchestra and the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra. Prior to his appointment with the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, he was the Music Director and Conductor of the North Pittsburgh Civic Symphony (1991-96).
Mr. Lauffer has taught on the faculties at Indiana State University and at Washington and Jefferson College. Mr. Lauffer served as Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Bands for the East Allegheny School District. During his tenure, the ensembles received state and national recognition for their excellence. Mr. Lauffer has also taught on the faculty at Jeannette School District for thirteen years, prior to his current position with Lincoln Park.
Maintaining a very active conducting schedule, both professionally and educationally, Maestro Lauffer is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the country. He is a frequent guest on university and college campuses, conducting and lecturing. Maestro Lauffer has won praise from such composers as David Stock, Karel Husa, Warren Benson, Michael Moricz, Todd Goodman, Neil DePonte, Richard Willis, Ruth Meyer Sacks, Jace Vek, Christopher Fraley and David Williams for his interpretative performances of their compositions. Mr. Lauffer is very active in commissioning new compositions for orchestra and winds.
Mr. Lauffer is also a member of the board of directors for the Laurel Ballet Performing Company and a Master Mason in the Grand Lodge of F.& A. M. of Pennsylvania, Jeannette Lodge No. 750. Mr. Lauffer resides in Jeannette, Pennsylvania with his wife Sharon, and children Benjamin, Brittany, Gregory and Robert.
If you have a question or comment for Maestro Bruce Lauffer, write to him at maestromso@hotmail.com
Todd Goodman, Composer-in-Residence
TODD GOODMAN was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania in 1977. He received his
Bachelor of Music degree in composition at the University of Colorado at Boulder
and is currently working on a Masters of Music degree in composition at Duquesne
University. He has also studied at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris,
France, with the European American Musical Alliance and at the Aspen Music
Festival in Aspen, Colorado. His principal composition teachers have been David
Stock, George Tsontakis, Richard Toensing and Louis Jorge Gonzalez.
Mr. Goodman has received commissions from a wide variety of players and
ensembles across the United States and his works have also been performed in
Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. He has served as the Altoona Symphony
Orchestra’s composer-in-residence since 2002 and has been commissioned eight
works during his four season tenure; including his Symphony No.1
"Fields of Crimson" [2003], Fanfare for a New Era [2003] and
Sketches of Home [2005]. He feels that the audience connection and
participation in his music is vital to its success. He wants people to leave a
concert feeling that they experienced a work rather than just observing.
Mr. Goodman has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for his
work with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra as well as grants from the University
of Colorado Entrepreneurship Center for Symphony No. 1 "Fields of
Crimson." He has also won such notable prizes as the prestigious Gold Farbe
award from the University of Colorado film department for his scores to two
short films by writer/director Ryan McVeigh, the Anderson Award for composition
and the Milan Desi Derri prize for his Concerto for Alto Saxophone
[rev. 2005].
The world premiere of Symphony No. 1 "Fields of Crimson" was
released on CD through Wrong Note Media in July 2003, marking the 140th
anniversary of the subject of this work, the battle of Gettysburg. This work has
been very well received throughout the United States and Europe.
Mr. Goodman's most recent projects include Sketches of Home,
a work for string orchestra based on the paintings of artist Kevin Kutz,
which was premiered in March 2005 by the Altoona Symphony. Other commissions
include a work for brass and percussion by the Altoona Symphony Orchestra for
their 2005-06 season, a work from Juniata College for a Wind Ensemble work
called Juniata: River of Sorrows, and a Concerto for Alto Saxophone
for the Duquesne University Contemporary Ensemble to be premiered in the
Spring 2006.
Mr. Goodman now resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife Katie, son
Emmerson, and St. Bernard, Doc.
EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Todd Goodman's composition Echos: Prelude and Dance has been honored by the Project Piccolo Rebirth organization. The organization's coordinator expressed admiration for the efforts of all the competitors by saying, "Think of this competition as the beginning to a new era of piccolo recognition; a revival to the solo piccolo! Hopefully, you are influenced to continue writing works for piccolo, and please keep me updated!" To Mr. Goodman, he said, "Although there were many intriguing and creative works written which illustrated this idea of revival, our panel of judges has selected Echos: Prelude and Dance by Todd Goodman."
The MSO is extremely proud that this young, talented, energetic composer is part of our organization. This piece will be performed by the MSO later in the season.