RESPIGHI Pines of Rome | STRAUSS Violin Concerto (ft. Andrew Sords)

Performers

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  Macomb Symphony Orchestra
  

  Macomb Symphony Orchestra
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  Andrew Neer Conductor
  

  Andrew Neer

  Conductor

  American conductor, Andrew Neer, was born in Tucker, Georgia and currently resides in Grosse Pointe, Michigan with his wife, Mary Lynn. He is quickly becoming known for his dynamic and expressive conducting style. His focus has been to educate and expand appreciation of music. He believes that at the heart of everything, music is the soul of America and provides transformative experiences for those performing and participating in the audience.

  Living in Michigan for most of his life, he is thrilled to join the Macomb Symphony Orchestra family. He attended Central Michigan University (CMU) studying Composition, Trumpet and Music Theatre Performance. Following his time at CMU, he obtained two Master of Music degrees in Composition and Conducting, respectively, from Wayne State University, Detroit MI. His composition experience ranges from that of the art song to film scores.

  In the summer 2013, he was invited to conduct Verdi’s La Traviata for Michigan Opera Theatre’s community programs, receiving high acclaim. In early 2016, he embarked on an international conducting career, appearing with orchestras in Romania and Bulgaria. He is honored to study privately with orchestral conductor & mentor Kenneth Kiesler. In 2023, Andrew completed Doctoral Studies in Orchestral Conducting at the world-renown University of Michigan. In addition to working with orchestras, Mr. Neer has been honored to lead choruses and conduct operas in and around Metropolitan Detroit.

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  Andrew Sords Violin Soloist
  

  Andrew Sords

  Violin Soloist

  … Throughout recent seasons, Andrew Sords highlighted the Beethoven sonata cycle, the Bologne Sinfonia Concertantes, and concerti by Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, and Beethoven in varied locales. Uniting with his LA-based trio (John Walz, cello and Timothy Durkovic, piano), the ensemble returned to Pasadena’s Boston Court Series, the St. Cross Music Guild, and presented trios by Brahms & Mendelssohn in Beverly Hills, CA. Sords appeared for the Traverse Symphony’s Maestro Series; Sarasate and Wieniawski with the Signature Symphony; Mendelssohn’s evergreen concerto with Symphony Irvine; and headlined an evening at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Theatre (Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy”). Sords had numerous recital appearances: Augusta, GA’s “Tuesday’s Live”, Harrisburg, PA’s “Arts on the Square”, Trinity Cathedral’s (OH) Bach and Franck cycle, the Chamber Music Society of Mississauga, and Québec’s Hudson Série de Musique Chambre and La Société de Musique du Lakeshore. In 2022, Sords opened the Symphony of Southeast Texas’s concert season with Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy”, returned to the Malone University Concert Series, and had a far-reaching range of recital appearances: Whitehorse Concerts (Yukon Territory); Wooster’s Music on Market Series (Ohio); the Johnstown Concert Society (PA); and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society. Sords reunited with the Carson City Symphony, and closed the Milwaukee Philharmonic’s season (Beethoven concerto). In 2020/21, Sords returned to Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende ProMusica Series, reprised the Brahms sonata cycle at Cleveland’s Trinity Concert Series (a collaboration aired a decade before with Elizabeth DeMio), and made his Ravinia Festival début with pianist Daniel Overly (aired concurrently on Chicago’s WFMT). Appearing on 3 continents during the 2019/20 season, Andrew Sords toured extensively with works by Beethoven: the sonata and piano trio cycles, the Triple Concerto, and the Violin Concerto in celebration of the composer’s 250th anniversary. Sords returned to the Peninsula Symphony (Sords/Walz/Durkovic) and North State Symphony (Sords/Anderson/Anderson) with Beethoven; appeared with the Juneau Symphony (Bruch); trotted out Corigliano’s “Red Violin Chaconne” and Paganini’s “La Campanella” with the Longwood Symphony; and presented masterclasses at the University of British Columbia, Converse College, and Idyllwild Music School. Prioritizing annual tours in Canada, Sords made his British Columbia debut with a tour visiting the North Okanagan Concert Association, the Kelowna Concert Association, and the Evergreen Concert Series (Vancouver) – all with pianist Cheryl Duvall. A highlight of 2020: Sords partnered with Daniel Singer to release sleek, contemporary editions of works by Mozart, Hubay, Haydn, Ysaÿe, Sibelius, and others, available from Green Point Editions and Groth Music.

  For more, please visit Andrew’s website!