Jonathan McPhee – Music Director & Principal Conductor

Jonathan McPhee is equally at home as a conductor for the symphony, ballet, and opera.  In addition to serving as Music Director for Symphony NH since 2008, Mr. McPhee is also Music Director for Lexington Symphony and the Boston Ballet, which is the second largest musical organization in Boston.

Guest appearances this season include the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra in Boston, National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.  Mr. McPhee was invited to conduct the Nashville Symphony as one of the conductors featured in the 2009 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview by the League of American Orchestras.  Past conducting engagements include the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, the Hamburg Philharmonic in Germany, the BBC Scottish Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic, The Hague Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Orchestre Colonne (Paris), the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in London, the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway.

Some of the world’s most distinguished dance companies for which Mr. McPhee has served as conductor include the  New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet (England), Martha Graham Dance Company, National Ballet of Canada, The Australian Ballet, Den Norske Ballett in Norway, and The Royal Danish Ballet in Denmark.  In addition to a broad repertoire in the field of dance, Mr. McPhee has conducted pops concerts, musical theatre and operetta.  He has also conducted grand opera with Opera Boston, the American Opera Center in New York, and Boston University Opera Institute.

Mr. McPhee’s  works as arranger and composer are in the repertoires of orchestras and ballet companies around the world. His edition of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring is the only authorized reduced orchestration of this work. Mr. McPhee’s compositions and arrangements are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.

Mr. McPhee’s best selling recording of The Nutcracker with the Boston Ballet Orchestra has sold over 75,000 copies.  He has also recorded Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet with that orchestra available on itunes, and Michael Gandolfi’s Caution to the Wind on the CRI CD label.  Mr. McPhee  conducted the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra for the films of Martha Graham’s works telecast by DANCE IN AMERICA, and conducted the score for the feature film Ballet Russes (2005).  His collaboration with WCRB classical radio “Kids Classical Hour” earned a Gabriel Award in 1998.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. McPhee received his  L.R.A.M. from the Royal Academy of Music, University of London, and a B.Mus. and M.Mus. from The Juilliard School.  While at Juilliard, Mr. McPhee was the recipient of a Naumburg Scholarship in Conducting and English Horn.  He has studied with Leonard Brain, David Diamond, Thomas Stacy, Rudolf Kempe, Sixten Ehrling, and participated in master classes with Sir Georg Solti and James Levine while at Juilliard.

Holly Krafka - Director, Symphony NH Chorus

Holly MacEwen Krafka was named Director of the Symphony NH Chorus in 2012.  The founder of the New World Chorale, she has been a conductor, educator, and performer in a wide range of musical activities for many years.  A native of Wellesley, MA, she is a graduate of Gettysburg College and holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Boston Conservatory.  As a singer, Ms. Krafka was a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for 20 years.

Ms. Krafka is a regular guest conductor with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra in Milford, MA.  She has led the orchestra and the New World Chorale since 2000 in a wide variety of performances for chorus and orchestra.

In September 2009, Ms. Krafka made her Hatch Shell conducting debut with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra and New World Chorale in a performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.  Ms. Krafka also leads Colla Voce, the vocal chamber ensemble of the Symphony NH Chorus.

A music educator for over 30 years, Ms. Krafka has been music director and vocal director in a number of local area churches and school systems.  She resides in Milford, MA and has three musical sons: Luke (cello), Pete (string bass), and Nick (jazz trumpet).

Some of the players listed below are linked to videos where you can get to know them – and their instruments – a little better.  Click on the underlined names to find out more!

Violin

Elliott Markow, concertmaster
Susan Faux, acting associate concertmaster
Zoia Bologovsky
Jane Dimitry
Raluca Dumitrache
Anne Egan
Sue Ann Erb
Nancy Goodwin
Sargis Karapetyan
Leonora LaDue
Ana-Maria LaPointe
Carrie LeSage
Adele Ohki
Katharina Radleberger
Amy Ripka

Viola

Dani Rimoni, principal
Irina Naryshkova
Kathleen Kalogeras
Elisabeth Westner
Nissim Tseytlin

Cello

Harel Gietheim, principal
Susanne Friedrich
Alexander Badalov
Jia Ma
Nathanial Lathrop
Priscilla Hayes Taylor

Double Bass

Volker Nahrmann, principal
Carolyn Fryer
Robert Hoffman

Flute

Kathleen Boyd, principal
Nina Barwell

Oboe

Cheryl Bishkoff, principal
Ronald Kaye
Kyoko Hida-Battaglia

Clarinet

Steven Jackson, principal
David Martins

Bassoon

Gregory Newton, principal
Sally Merriman
Leo Kenen, contrabassoon

Trumpet

Richard Watson, principal
Richard Kelley

French Horn

Alyssa Daly, principal
Kristin E. Olsen
Michael Weinstein
George Sullivan

Trombone

John Faieta, principal
Tom Otto
Will Lombardelli, bass

Tuba

Takatsugu Hagiwara, principal

Timpani

Jeff Bluhm, principal

Piano / Organ

Joseph R. Olefirowicz CAGO, acting principal

Harp

Katie Lyon-Pingree, principal

Holly Krafka, Director

Founded in 1964, the Symphony NH Chorus is a highly-respected volunteer chorus committed to excellence in choral performance. Under the direction of Holly Krafka, the chorus of approximately 70 talented area individuals will perform three concerts as part of Symphony NH’s 2012-2013 subscription season. The chorus is accompanied by Anna Maria Dwyer.

The current season has the Symphony NH Chorus performing Nänie by Johannes Brahms on October 6^th; a Holiday Pops show featuring music from the movies on December 15^th; and on April 27^th, they’ll perform in an opera and Broadway spectacular, featuring Verdi choruses and scenes from La Bohème, Les Misérables, and Phantom of the Opera.

Chorus Membership: Rehearsals are on Monday evenings, starting at 7:00 pm at the Nashua Community College (Judd Gregg Auditorium), 505 Amherst St., in Nashua.  All prospective and returning members should arrive early to the first rehearsal to sign in, pay membership contribution, and pick up music. Rehearsals conclude between 9:00 and 9:30 pm. For directions, click here.

The chorus is currently recruiting experienced singers for all sections. A membership contribution of $100 per person, per season is required ($50 per semester), along with purchase of music as necessary. Those interested in membership information should contact the Symphony office at 603.595.9156 or email snhc@symphonynh.org.

OPEN SUMMER REHEARSALS

On Monday evenings in August, the Symphony NH Chorus will hold open summer rehearsals.  These will be held at the Nashua Community College (Judd Gregg Auditorium), located at 505 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH 03063.  The rehearsals will begin at 7:00 pm and end at 8:30 pm.

For more information, please contact the Symphony office at 603.595.9156 or email snhc@symphonynh.org.

The toes are tapping, the dance floor is full, and there’s a smile on everyone’s face…

Such are the early responses to our “New England Swing” big band, the newest ensemble within Symphony NH.  First performing in March of 2010, this group continues to wow patrons of all ages with its stylish performances of traditional swing and big band music.  Led by members of Symphony NH’s brass section, the band draws from several decades of performing experience and can play it all: traditional and contemporary jazz, Latin music, and waltz… just to name a few.  Comprised of some of the Symphony’s most versatile and seasoned players, they are equally at home in concert settings, dinner events, corporate functions, and weddings.

New England Swing is available for your upcoming function and is sure to be a hit.  Almost any event can be accommodated: concert series, corporate dinners & holiday parties, benefit auctions, weddings, anniversaries, public ceremonies, and any other celebration with live music.

Watch and listen to us HERE and HERE.

For bookings, pricing, or other information, please contact Nick Adams at (603) 595-9156 or nick@symphonynh.org.

Colla Voce is an audition-only vocal chamber group belonging to the Symphony NH Chorus (SNHC) comprising sixteen experienced singers.  Members of Colla Voce perform with the SNHC and as a stand-alone chamber ensemble.  Colla Voce performs virtually every vocal style, including classical, contemporary, jazz and pop.  Their unique blend and dedication to a cappella singing in particular make them a popular performing group in the greater Nashua area.  Colla Voce is available for hire by contacting the Symphony NH office at 603.595.9156 or by emailing collavoce@symphonynh.org.

Holly Krafka, Director

Holly MacEwen Krafka, the founder of the New World Chorale, has been a conductor, educator, and performer in a wide range of musical activities for many years.  A native of Wellesley, MA, she is a graduate of Gettysburg College and holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Boston Conservatory.  As a singer, Ms. Krafka was a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for 20 years.

Ms. Krafka is a regular guest conductor with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra in Milford, MA.  She has led the orchestra and the New World Chorale since 2000 in a wide variety of performances for chorus and orchestra.

In September 2009, Ms. Krafka made her Hatch Shell conducting debut with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra and New World Chorale in a performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.  Symphony NH in Nashua, NH appointed Ms. Krafka Director of the Symphony NH Chorus in 2012.

A music educator for over 30 years, Ms. Krafka has been music director and vocal director in a number of local area churches and school systems.  She resides in Milford, MA and has three musical sons: Luke (cello), Pete (string bass), and Nick (jazz trumpet).