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| MARTIN KNOBLAUCH Martin Knoblauch’s musical interests range from Gregorian Chant to Wagner and from Gilbert and Sullivan to Broadway. The oldest child of a large family, he spent his early years in suburban Philadelphia, listening to great music on the radio and attempting to reproduce it on his grandmother’s piano. His serious training started at age 13 when he began to study orchestra scores, take private harmony and composition lessons and learn to play the flute, oboe, violin and piano He was soon playing in various organizations throughout the Philadelphia area. In 1968 while still in high school he began his apprenticeship with Lyric Opera Company. He studied conducting at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now the University of the Arts) with Maurice Kaplow, Theodore Antoniou, Carl Suppa, Bruno Rigaci, William Smith and master classes with Franco Ferrara. As the Philadelphia Lyric grew into the Opera Company of Philadelphia, he continued as an Assistant Conductor, helping to prepare the chorus and prompting while obtaining his undergraduate and graduate degrees in conducting and opera. During this time he also commenced a teaching career with several institutions in the area, served as music director of a number of organizations, married and had three daughters. In his forty year career he has conducted nearly all of the standard classical orchestra and opera repertoire. His past positions include Music Director of the Appel Farm Art and Music Center and its Spring Opera Festival, Symphony Club of Philadelphia, Olney Symphony, the Gilbert and Sullivan Players. He has made appearances with the Ambler Symphony, Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra. He spent nine years teaching at Girard College and has also taught at Chestnut Hill College West Catholic High School and Notre Dame Academy in Villanova. He has held church positions with a variety of denominations. In 2000 he was appointed Music Director and Principal Organist of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Philadelphia, one of the largest Catholic communities in the United States. He continues his twenty year long association with the Chestnut Hill Orchestra. Since 1999 he has served as Music Director of Northeast Oratorio Society and in the same year founded the Pennypack Chamber Orchestra which he conducts from his harpsichord. He also guest conducts several groups including the Bucks County Chorus, the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. In 1979, he attended the American Symphony Orchestra League Management Training Program in Los Angeles. With an eye towards focusing his intellect and talents in the field of Arts Management, he applied and was accepted at the Temple University School of Law in 1981 received his Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1985 Maestro Knoblauch lives in Northeast Philadelphia with Dianne, his wife of 35 years and a fine violinist, a daughter and his three grandchildren. When not conducting, he pursues a myriad of other interests including Ham Radio, Astronomy, Mathematics and Languages. |