Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony Association announces the appointment of David Cubek as Assistant Conductor. David will also serve as the Conductor for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonic ensemble. Mr. Cubek currently serves as Director of the Claremont Concert Orchestra of Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer and Scripps Colleges, and has served on the faculty of the Masters of Arts in Teaching Program of the Longy School of Music of Bard College. David joins an esteemed artistic team with the Pasadena Symphony renewing the contracts of both Music Director David Lockington and Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan through 2019. As it embarks on its 89th season, David’s appointment further cements the Pasadena Symphony’s position as the area’s premiere destination for youth orchestra instruction and live symphonic music; with an eye for long term stability in its artistic leadership.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mr. Cubek is a firm believer in the power of music to foster social change. He regularly conducts ensembles from Venezuela’s acclaimed music education program “El Sistema,” which aims not only to create great musicians, but also to dramatically change the life trajectory of children in need. He has also collaborated with several El Sistema-inspired programs in the United States, including Youth Orchestra of LA (YOLA), Gustavo Dudamel’s initiative committed to providing intensive music training to underserved neighborhoods in the LA area.
“The PYSO program represents the Pasadena Symphony Association’s commitment to elevating young musicians and providing opportunities for their continued learning thereby creating future leaders of tomorrow,” stated Pasadena Symphony Association Chief Executive Officer Lora Unger, adding “we are very much looking forward to the growth of our youth orchestra programs under his artistic direction. “
David undertakes his role as Assistant Conductor with the opening of the 2016/17 Symphony Season on October 8, 2016. The Pasadena Symphony performs six concerts annually at Pasadena’s historic Ambassador Auditorium from October through April as part of its Singpoli Classics series. All concerts take place at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105.
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ABOUT THE PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
Recent Acclaim for the Pasadena Symphony and POPS:
“The Pasadena Symphony signals a new direction…teeming with vitality…dripping with opulent, sexy emotion.” Los Angeles Times.
“…full of pulsating energy from first note to last… the strings were lushly resonant, the wind principals were at the top of their games, and the brass rang out with gleaming vigor.” –Pasadena Star News.
Formed in 1928, the Pasadena Symphony and POPS is an ensemble of Hollywood’s most talented, sought after musicians. With extensive credits in the film, television, recording and orchestral industry, the artists of Pasadena Symphony and POPS are the most heard in the world.
The Pasadena Symphony and POPS performs in two of the most extraordinary venues in the United States: Ambassador Auditorium, known as the Carnegie Hall of the West, and the luxuriant Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Internationally recognized, Grammy-nominated conductor, David Lockington, serves as the Pasadena Symphony Association’s Music Director, with performance-practice specialist Nicholas McGegan serving as Principal Guest Conductor. The multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” Michael Feinstein, is the Principal Pops Conductor, who succeeded Marvin Hamlisch in the newly created Marvin Hamlisch Chair.
A hallmark of its robust education programs, the Pasadena Symphony Association has served the youth of the region for over five decades through the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO) comprised of five performing ensembles, with over 250 gifted 4th-12th grade students from more than 50 schools all over Southern California. PYSO ensembles perform multiple times each season at a variety of venues throughout Southern California including Big Bear, Disneyland, and Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium, and have made an appearance on the popular television show GLEE. The PYSO tours bi-annually, and will next be traveling to Costa Rica in June 2017 to perform at the Teatro Nacional in San Jose.
The PSA provides people from all walks of life with powerful access points to the world of symphonic music.
ABOUT David Cubek
Assistant Conductor
David Cubek has been the director of the Claremont Concert Orchestra of Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges since 2010. He was also recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the Pasadena Symphony and Conductor of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra Philharmonic. In addition to being passionate about conducting and teaching, he is a firm believer in the power of music to foster social change. Since 2009, Mr. Cubek regularly conducts ensembles from Venezuela’s acclaimed music education program known as “El Sistema.” He has also collaborated with several El Sistema-inspired programs in the United States, including Youth Orchestra of LA (YOLA), Gustavo Dudamel’s initiative committed to providing intensive music training to underserved neighborhoods in the LA area. Mr. Cubek’s collaborations led to his appointment as faculty member of the Masters of Arts in Teaching Program of the Longy School of Music of Bard College, which provides training for professional musicians aspiring to become agents of social change.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mr. Cubek began private piano and composition lessons at the age of 7 before entering the Simón Bolívar Conservatory. In 1999, he moved to Montreal to continue his music education, studying piano and music theory at McGill University and orchestral conducting at the Conservatory of Montreal. At the latter institution he was awarded First Prize with Great Distinction in orchestral conducting. Mr. Cubek completed his doctoral studies in orchestral conducting at Northwestern University, where he served as assistant and guest conductor of the opera program, and the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. He was music director of the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra and a lecturer in music theory at both Northwestern and McGill. In addition, Mr. Cubek has led orchestras in Canada, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Italy.
David also serves as the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra Philharmonic Conductor.
David Cubek, Assistant Conductor