Music Director and Conductor
Known for his contagious energy and passion both on and off of the podium, Mr. Mahl has solidified his place as one of the most exciting conductors of his generation. His performances captivate audiences, and through these unique musical experiences, he is able to expose music’s immense power to bring positive change to the world. He is dedicated to bringing music to life for everyone, and proving that it is a necessary part of a joyous and fulfilling existence.
Currently, Mr. Mahl is the Music Director of the Northport Symphony Orchestra, Geneva Light Opera Company, Philharmonia Orchestra at Third Street, and Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, as well as Associate Conductor with the Greenwich Village Orchestra and faculty/festival ensemble conductor at the Charles Ives Music Festival. He is also the founder and Music Director of OrchestraOne, a NYC based 501c3 that is founded on community involvement and participation.
Mr. Mahl leads, collaborates and performs with ensembles and soloists comprised of world-class musicians from orchestras ranging from the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and more throughout the season, as well as Grammy Winning artists like Brandon Patrick George, Rannan Meyer, the Las Angeles Guitar Quartet and Judy Collins, among others. Throughout his career, Mr. Mahl has worked with countless permutations of ensembles from small to large, fully professional and semi-professional orchestras, as well community and youth orchestras. He has been hailed for his ability to meet the needs of these different ensembles and bring them to new levels of artistic heights and growth.
Mr. Mahl is also known for his unique and innovative programming. In his effort to show that the concert hall is a place of togetherness, openness and inclusivity, he presents exciting and engaging programs. These programs not only mirror the rich diversity of our world, but create unforgettable experiences that show the interconnectedness of our race, and actively welcome all peoples into the fold of classical music. He is constantly searching for meaningful music that is underrepresented in the current cannon and making every effort to give this music new life. To that end, most recently Mr. Mahl’s orchestral arrangements of Nathaniel Dett’s Piano music was given its world premier with the Northport Symphony, and a fresh interpretation of Florence Price’s The Oak with the Greenwich Village Orchestra was met with thunderous applause.
As a musical leader, Mr. Mahl is known for his attention to detail, meaningful and original interpretations, and insistence on artistic excellence. To that end, he believes that the best way to achieve the highest possible standard of performance is through kindness and collaboration. He continually strives to create an environment that is joyous, fulfilling, and artistically satisfying for the entire community being served.
As a fervent supporter of New Music, Mr. Mahl frequently conducts various New Music Ensembles in the Greater NYC area, has led ensembles in the performance of more than twenty world premiers and has commissioned nine pieces for full orchestra through the ensembles he directs. These and other projects have led to many collaborations and commissions in the United States and Canada including the world premieres of fully-staged operas, ballet, and countless small and large ensemble pieces of all genres and instrumentations.
Off the podium Mr. Mahl furthers his dedication to his communities by continually developing interesting, engaging and innovative programs based on the wants and needs of its members. With the understanding that every community is different, he collaborates with community leaders, musically and otherwise, to devise activities that bring inspiration into the lives of as many people as possible. He has worked to develop lecture series, library workshop series, interactive children and family concerts, outreach programs outside and within the school system, and concerts that explore the history and culture of a particular communities as well as other endeavors.
As a passionate educator, Mr. Mahl has personally taught all ages and instruments at public and private schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City, and frequently works with student musicians from under-served communities. Music can provide a transformational experience for any child regardless of background, and he attempts to engage and inspire students from as many cultural and geographic backgrounds as possible through community engagement activities such as free lectures, workshops, and concerts in addition to working with student orchestras.
Mr. Mahl received his Bachelors from Ithaca College, and continues his studies at Universite de Montreal and the State University of New York at Fredonia. He has studieD with some of the foremost conducting pedagogues in the country including Marin Alsop, James Ross, Harold Farberman, Neil Varon, Marc Gibson, Larry Rachleff and Don Schleicher and has participated in workshops in the United States, Canada and in Europe. Mr. Mahl’s primary instruments are trumpet and piano and he continues to play in orchestral and chamber music settings as often as possible.
When not on the podium, his passions extend to fitness, tennis, and spending time in nature.
