Conductor Andrew Altenbach

"Exquisite Mozart poured forth from the St.Paul Chamber Orchestra [under Maestro Altenbach]" writes the St.Paul Pioneer Press. Noted for his "vividly colorful" and "first rate" performances, Andrew Altenbach has gained acclaim as a conductor of symphonic and operatic literature.

He is the new Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the St.Cloud Symphony Orchestra, which performs works of Dvorak, de Falla, and Ravel among others plus a much anticipated performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony this season. He continues as the music director of the Bach Chamber Players of St.Paul, and will be conducting the ensemble's first performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. This past summer he served as associate conductor of the Central City, conducting performances of Lucia di Lammermoor and Rinaldo. In 2008, Mr. Altenbach music directed Die Entführung aus dem Serail with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera to rave reviews. Recent engagements include guest conducting with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Musical Offering Chamber Music Series plus assistant conductor to Edo de Waart at the Santa Fe Opera. Upcoming engagements include La bohème with Opera Africa, Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera Birmingham, cover/assistant to The Rake's Progress with the St.Paul Chamber Orchestra, and cover/assisting several subscription concerts with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Altenbach is equally at home in collaboration from the keyboard. He studied piano with Alan Chow at Northwestern University and Karen Shaw at Indiana University. He has performed in master classes with Roger Vignoles, Martin Katz, Warren Jones, Steven Blier, Thomas Hampson, Jane Eaglen, Ben Malensek, Marlena Malas, and Margo Garret. Mr. Altenbach has been a coach for the Santa Fe Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua Instituation, and the Indiana University Opera Theatre. Mr. Altenbach has collaborated with instrumentalists and vocalists in concerts across the United States as well as Italy. He continues to enjoy the mentorship of pianists, Martin Katz and Steven Blier.

He now resides in the Twin Cities with his wife, Julia.