Conductors

BUCKLAND HOFSTETTER, Monica

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Buckland-Hofstetter (c) Buckland-Hofstetter

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The British-Swiss conductor Monica Buckland Hofstetter grew up in England, and studied at Newnham College, Cambridge, the Basel Music Academy and the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen.

In 1992-93, she served as Assistant Conductor to the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonie Zlín (Czech Republic), and since then she has been its Permanent Guest Conductor. She frequently appears as a guest conductor with several orchestras in Poland, Slovakia, Russia, and the Czech Republic. In Switzerland, she works regularly with the Bläsersolisten Aargau and Ars Cantata Zürich, and has conducted the Tonhalle Orchestra, Zürcher Kammerorchester, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Theater am Gleis Ensemble, Basel Sinfonieorchester, and the Symphonisches Orchester Zürich. In June 1997, Ms. Buckland Hofstetter had the honor of conducting the farewell concert of the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Basel. In summer 1999, she made her US debut conducting a program of new music by women composers in Washington, DC.

Her first two CDs, Vom Klang der Bilder (an orchestral cycle by the Swiss composer AK Zwicker) and missaverde (a large choral work by Fortunat Frölich), reflect Ms. Buckland Hofstetter's commitment to contemporary music. She has conducted many first performances of music by living composers, and has worked closely with composers such as Witold Lutoslawski, Rudolf Kelterborn, Andrew Lovett, Mela Meierhans, and Helmut Lachenmann on interpretations of their music. A third CD of new Swiss music is scheduled for release later this year.

Monica Buckland Hofstetter has won several awards, including a scholarship to the Basel Music Academy, a prize at the Leeds Conductors' Competition (England) in 1994, and the conducting prize of the Swiss Musicians' Association / Kiefer-Hablitzel Foundation in 1992 and 1993.

ORCHESTRAL

Permanent Guest Conductor of Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonie Zlín since my Assistantship during the season 1992-93; since then 17 concerts, tours to Switzerland and Austria and CD recordings.

Organised, raised funding for and conducted tour of BMP to Switzerland in November 1994: three concerts of symphonic and choral music.

At Aspen (2000), conducted Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto 3 and Mendelssohn Symphony 4 in Festival concerts; conducted Brahms' Serenade in D, Schumann's Konzertstück for four horns and the Stravinsky Octet in concerts I organised myself.

Stepped in at short notice to replace chief conductor Petr Skvor for tour of four concerts with the Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic in November 1993.

Invitations to guest conduct orchestras in Switzerland, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Invited to be first guest conductor of the Aargauer Kammersolisten (now Bläsersolisten Aargau): concert, rehearsal and interview were broadcast on Swiss TV. Since then further tours.

Formed own symphony orchestra for 2 concerts in the Cambridge University Music School while a student, and a wind ensemble for 2 concerts outside the university.

Formed own string orchestra (Collegio) in Basel; a debut concert of Czech music included the first performance in the west of Domazlicky's Suita Danza.

Conductor of the Newnham College Raleigh Music Society between 1983-87, for 7 choral and/or orchestral concerts; invited to conduct Trinity Hall Music Society in 5 concerts 1985-86.

NEW MUSIC

At Aspen, conducted My Masters' Voices, a work for ensemble by Susan Burkey and the first performances of Static by Roshanne Etezady and Deep Peace of the Quiet Earth to You by Deborah Barnekow.

Conducted the first performance of Na?, a work for wind ensemble by Mela Meierhans in a concert for the Millenium Eve entitled "Visions" and including works by Prokofiev, Alfred Felder and Matthias Steinauer.

Conducted the first performances and recording of Missa Verde, a 60-minute orchestral and choral work by Fortunat Frölich, in November 1999.

Recorded a CD of orchestral music by young Swiss composers, to be released in 2000.

Conducted new series of orchestral jingles for Swiss Radio DRS by Mela Meierhans, summer 1998.

Performed pieces by Alfred Felder and Louisa Lasdun with Divertismento St. Petersburg in May 1998.

Conducted pieces by Rudolf Kelterborn and Bettina Skrzypczak in the last-ever concert of the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Basel in June 1997.

Conducted Miracles de l'enfance as part of the Swiss Radio DRS Festival of music by Albert Moeschinger, March 1997.

Premiered Vom Klang der Bilder, a 74-minute orchestral cycle by A K Zwicker. This involved a first performance in Zlín (3 May 1996), followed by a tour to Zürich and St Gallen. The concert was broadcast by Swiss Radio DRS2, who co-produced the CD with MGB (CD 6151, released August 1998).
First performances include pieces by Felix Baumann, Andrew Lovett, Louisa Lasdun, A K Zwicker, Markus Wettstein, Felix Profos and Christoph Neidhöfer: this last in a concert by the Basel Musik Forum.
Conducted pieces by Morton Feldman, H-C von Dadelsen and Werner Heider as part of course in twentieth-century chamber music at Basel Music Academy.
Participated in a course with Witold Lutoslawski at the Basel Music Academy, concentrating on the Cello concerto and Jeux vénitiens.

THEATRE

1995-1997 Assistant on productions of Don Giovanni, Marriage of Figaro and Paul Bunyan.
Musical Director of three productions by Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Society, fully-staged and with a cast of 30 and a professional orchestra, at the Minack Theatre, Cornwall, and the Arts Theatre Cambridge.
Musical director of fully-staged productions of musicals with a cast of 40 amateurs in Potton, Beds.
Stage manager and/or musical director in Cambridge student theatre (1984-86).

CHORAL

Commissioned and conducted the first performance of "In meinen Träumen..." by Louisa Lasdun, spring 1998.
Invited to direct a year's project in Allschwil (near Basel) to develop community music-making, and leading to performances of Hermann Suter's Le Laudi, involving around 180 experienced and inexperienced singers and instrumentalists of all age-groups.
Wide experience of choral music, having sung regularly in 10 choirs (including The Bach Choir and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain) and been conductor of 9, ranging from church or college chapel choirs to auditioned chamber choirs to large choral societies which give concerts with professional orchestras.
Singing weekend workshops held regularly with choirs in England and Switzerland.

OTHER

Teacher at Stevenage Music School, 1988-1989.
Private teacher of conducting students, 1994-present.
Member of Incorporated Society of Musicians (England) and Schweizerischer Berufs-dirigentenverband (Switzerland).
Languages: English (mother tongue), German, French, some Italian, Czech.

Written by Celia P. Novo Last modified on Tuesday, 04 October 2011 17:19

Celia P. Novo

Celia P. Novo is Founder and President of the international artist management company NOVO ARTISTS, INC. and of NOVO CONSULTING.

Mrs. Novo has been a dynamic and productive force in the classical music world since 1983 when she became personal business manager to late legendary soprano ARLEEN AUGER.

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CELIA P. NOVO

Born in New York City, Celia P. Novo attended New York University as a double major in Biology and Music. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Advanced Biological Studies from Fordham University. Mrs. Novo worked as a senior research assistant in the departments of Biochemistry, Neurology, and Pediatric Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for six years. As a New York State certified teacher, she taught Biology, Chemistry, and Developmental Biology at the college preparatory level.

In a dramatic career change, she became personal business manager to her dear friend, the late American diva Arleen Auger, in 1983. Mrs. Novo directed all of Ms. Auger's business affairs until her tragic death in June of 1993. Mrs. Novo and her husband, Guy P. Novo, founded the Arleen Auger Memorial Fund in 1995. The purpose of this Fund is to identify needy and talented young singers who wish to follow in Ms. Auger's esteemed footsteps, and reward them with study grants and scholarships to help defer the cost of voice lessons and other expenses relating to their vocal studies.

In 1995, Celia Novo founded Novo Artists, Inc., an international artist management company that represents conductors, stage directors, set designers, choreographers, singers, and instrumentalists throughout the world. She is also Founder and President of Novo Consulting.

Always devoted to charitable organizations, Mrs. Novo served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Music Conservatory of Westchester from 1987 through 2003, and played a prominent role as chairperson of their education, marketing and special events committees. In 2006, she was elected to the Board of Directors of St. Christopher's Inn by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor.

Mrs. Novo and her husband, international attorney Guy P. Novo, reside in Hartsdale, NY. Their son, Andrew R. Novo, graduated Magna cum laude in History from Princeton University in June 2002, earned a Masters degree in International Relations and a Doctorate in History at the University of Oxford in July 2005, and a Doctorate in History. Andrew's first novel Queen of Cities has recently been published by Coffeetown Press.

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My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it,
and you simply take as much as you require.

~Edward Elgar