JEFFREY BIEGEL, pianist

Since 1999, Jeffrey Biegel has commissioned ten composers to bring new music for piano and orchestra to the repertoire. Considered the most prolific artist of his generation, Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters upon Mr. Biegel, for his achievements in performance, recordings, chamber music, champion of new music, composer, arranger and educator. Among his recent recordings and performances, Mr. Biegel performed the World Premiere of Giovanni Allevi's 'Concerto for Piano and Orchestra' with Orchestra Kentucky and in Milan's Teatro dal Vermes, recording with Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana. In 2019, Grammy winning composer, Dick Tunney unveils the new "Peanuts Concerto" for piano and orchestra based on music by Vince Guaraldi for its World Premiere with Orchestra Kentucky and Mr. Biegel. Equally championing pop music icons, Mr. Biegel has brought Jimmy Webb's 'Nocturne for Piano and Orchestra' to the public and, PDQ Bach's 'Concerto for Simply Grand Piano and Orchestra' by Peter Schickele with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The first solo digital recording on Mr. Biegel's Naturally Sharp label will be released in 2019, and, in 2020, he will premiere Jim Stephenson's first piano concerto, tentatively titled, "Water" - in both its life-sustaining and destructive forces.

A leading pioneer of concerto projects joining multiple orchestras as a model for commissioning new music in the 21st century, Mr. Biegel created the first largest consortium of orchestras in 1998. Additionally, Mr. Biegel is an avid composer and his choral music is published by the Hal Leonard Corporation, Carl Fischer, Porfiri & Horvath and The LeDor Group.

Leonard Bernstein said of pianist Jeffrey Biegel: "He played fantastic Liszt. He is a splendid musician and a brilliant performer." These comments launched Mr. Biegel's 1986 New York recital debut, as the third recipient of the Juilliard William Petschek Piano Debut Award in Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. He studied at The Juilliard School with Adele Marcus, herself a pupil of Josef Lhevinne and Artur Schnabel, and is currently on faculty at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, a City University of New York (CUNY).

GORDON JOHNSON, Guest Conductor

During his thirty-five year tenure as conductor of the Great Falls Symphony, Gordon Johnson has been known for his energetic performances and dynamic leadership.

In addition to his responsibilities in Great Falls, Maestro Johnson continues to maintain a busy schedule having guest conducting engagements with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Germany and France. In February 2009 Johnson was invited by the United States State Department to conduct an American music program with the National Philharmonic of Moldova. Johnson has served as the music director of the Glacier Symphony (MT) from 1982 to 1997 and later of the Mesa Symphony (AZ) from 1997 to 2005. He served as the director of orchestras at the Red Lodge Music Festival (MT) from 2006 to 2011.

In addition to the Great Falls Symphony he is conductor emeritus of the Great Falls Youth Orchestra where he was directly involved in the training future generations of orchestral musicians. He is past President of the Military Affairs Committee and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. In 2012 he was awarded the Distinguished Patriot Medal by the Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General of the State of Montana.

During his many years of concertizing Johnson has served as accompanist to many superb musicians including world renowned artists Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Sir James Galway, Evelyn Glennie and Joshua Bell. He has collaborated in concert with many of America’s most popular artists including Art Garfunkel, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Kansas, America, Lee Ann Rimes and Charlie Daniels.

The Missoula Symphony Orchestra & Chorale collaborated with Johnson on “Play Me Montana”, a musical symphony written by Montana native and songwriter, Tim Ryan. Our musicians look forward to again playing under Maestro Johnson’s baton!