| Jeffrey Huard |
Introduction
"The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Jeffrey Huard provided an idiomatic account of the score, leading the combined forces with clarity and a fine sense of Broadway style.”
Opera Canada – Kenneth de Long
Positions
BiographyAmerican-born, Jeffrey Huard’s conducting career embraces the worlds of opera, music theatre and the concert stage. A personal triumph was his appearance with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, leading "the season's clear crowd-pleaser, TREEMONISHA, an exuberant, joyful opera sparked by the snappy conducting of Jeffrey Huard" (Opera News). He made his National Arts Centre debut conducting the National Arts Centre Orchestra with tenor John McDermott as soloist and also led the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in 'Broadway Spectacular', a concert that marked his Roy Thomson Hall debut. He led the Edmonton Symphony in a Pops Series concert, 'Bernstein on Broadway' and conducted PIRATES OF PENZANCE for the Piedmont Opera in North Carolina. Mr. Huard conducted a new production of Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD for the Calgary Opera and premiered the musical PELAGIE at Toronto’s CanStage, touring with the production to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. He led Toronto Operetta Theatre’s acclaimed production of Kurt Weill’s LADY IN THE DARK and debuted for l’Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil conducting a programme of selections from classic and contemporary film scores. Huard was Music Director and Conductor for the Toronto hit production of the SOUND OF MUSIC at the Princess of Wales Theatre; a position he also held for Toronto Operetta Theatre’s premiere of the Davies/Benson operetta, EARNEST, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING (based of the Oscar Wilde play) and the CBC series ‘Triple Sensation’. Further credits with Toronto Operetta Theatre include LEO, THE ROYAL CADET, and for this season, Beckwith’s TAPTOO! Mr. Huard conducted Piedmont Opera’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY and he led the Broadway production of SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, starring John Lithgow. Huard's credits include musical supervision for productions of Hal Prince's SHOWBOAT (Toronto, New York, London, Sydney), THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Toronto), KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Toronto, London, New York), SUNSET BOULEVARD (Toronto) and RAGTIME (Toronto, Los Angeles, New York). He has conducted the world and Broadway premieres of SHOWBOAT and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, the Canadian premiere and Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the Canadian production of SUNSET BOULEVARD, THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER IN CONCERT and the world premiere of RAGTIME in Toronto. He also continues as an active participant in the creation and development of new musicals. Recordings include THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, SHOWBOAT and SUNSET BOULEVARD. Mr. Huard was Head Coach for the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, leading performances in Toronto and on tour. He has also held posts on the music staffs of Opera Omaha, Chautauqua Opera, Nebraska Opera Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, the Wolf Trap Opera, and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Mr. Huard holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University with further studies at the Scuola Lorenzo de Medici in Florence and the National Opera Institute.
January 2012 For further information, please visit www.jeffreyhuard.com
Full RepertoireEXPERIENCE
RECORDINGS
EDUCATION Scuola Lorenzo di Medici, Florence, Italy Engaged By
Reviews“Jeffrey Huard provided an idiomatic account of the score, leading the combined forces with clarity and a fine sense of Broadway style.” (SWEENEY TODD) Opera Canada – Kenneth DeLong
“The pit musicians led by Jeffrey Huard fuel the music’s penchant for soaring and rousing melody. They underscore an unexpected abundance of subtlety.” (MADAMA BUTTERFLY)
Winston-Salem Journal – Ken Neufeld
“Musical Director Jeffrey Huard offers as definitive an interpretation of the Kern and Hammerstein score as we’re ever likely to get.” (SHOWBOAT)
The Detroit News – Reed Johnson
“Le chef d’orchestre Jeffrey Huard, très sympathique et dynamique.” Le Nouvelliste – Lucille Castonguay |