Cristian Macelaru

Assistant Conductor

Cristian Macelaru begins his two-year tenure as assistant conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra with the 2011-12 season. In this role, Mr. Macelaru conducts special non-subscription performances and covers concerts for Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit, Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet- Séguin, and many of the ensemble’s guest conductors. A native of Romania, Mr. Macelaru comes to the Orchestra from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he served on the conducting staff and recently completed his Master of Music degree in conducting.

In recent seasons Mr. Macelaru was a conducting fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival and served as assistant conductor at Dallas Opera. He made his Houston Grand Opera debut leading performances of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly in the 2010-11 season. While completing his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Miami, Mr. Macelaru was assistant conductor of the University of Miami Symphony, associate conductor of the Florida Youth Orchestra, conductor and founder of the Clarke Chamber Players, and concertmaster of the Miami Symphony. In 2006 he received a Master of Music degree in violin performance from Rice University, during which time he was also a member of the Houston Symphony.

A strong supporter of music education, Mr. Macelaru has served as a conductor with the Houston Youth Symphony, where he created a successful chamber music program. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Crisalis Music Project, an organization aimed at giving young performers chances to perform side-by-side with professional musicians. Mr. Macelaru started studying violin at the age of six in his native Romania. After winning top prizes in the National Music Olympiad of Romania, he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he furthered his studies in both violin and conducting. He resides in Philadelphia with his wife, Cheryl, and son, Beniamin.

August 2011