After conducting across Europe and the United States, Keehun Nam has returned to Minnesota to grow and invest in musical communities in his home state. Nam currently is the Artistic Director of Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras where he conducts its top orchestra and oversees a program serving nearly 200 students in 5 ensembles. While at Vanderbilt, Nam founded and was the music director of the Commodore Orchestra, a performing ensemble for non-music major students. Nam has served as a guest conductor across the country for collegiate, community and professional orchestras.
Dennis Friesen-Carper has performed and had his music performed across Europe, North America, and Asia. Former Music Director of the Pasadena Philharmonic Orchestra and Indiana Opera North, his recent conducting appearances include the Jiangsu Symphony Orchestra, the St. Olaf College Philharmonia, Shanghai University Symphony, and a recording of violin showpieces with the Polish Radio Symphony of Warsaw. In July, National Public Radio’s Performance Today featured his performance with pipa virtuoso/composer Gao Hong. In December 2022, he will conduct new works for symphony orchestra with ancient Chinese ceremonial carillon in New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Richard Haglund is the founder and Music Director of the Erato Chamber Orchestra in Chicago. As a guest conductor, Haglund has led professional ensembles across the country and around the globe. These include the Camerata Chamber Orchestra in Cluj, Romania, the St. Petersburg Hermitage Orchestra in Russia, the Varna Philharmonic and Gabrovo Chamber Orchestra in Bulgaria, Capella Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia and the National Symphony of Moldova in Chişinău. A native of Minnesota Haglund holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Minnesota, and a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Bard College Conservatory of Music.
Hannah Schendel is establishing herself as a brilliant and collaborative young conductor. She was awarded second place in the The American Prize Competition 2021 in the community orchestra division and was a finalist in the university orchestra division. Schendel recently served as Director of Orchestras and Director of String Activities at Bethel University. Currently, Schendel is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the mentorship of Mark Gibson. She holds a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Minnesota.