As previously announced, Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre and Principal Librarian Nicole Jordan also join the Orchestra for 2020–21 season
(Philadelphia, September 9, 2020)—The Philadelphia Orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Second Horn Christopher Dwyer to its roster beginning in the 2020–21 season. As previously announced, Nicole Jordan will assume the role of principal librarian, and Philippe Tondre will begin his appointment as principal oboe at the same time.
“I am always excited to launch a new season, but this season is particularly meaningful. The pandemic kept us apart for far too long, and we feel very fortunate to be able to bring music to our audiences again,” said Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. "I am looking forward to the immense talent these members will bring to our new digital initiatives this fall and to the Orchestra for many years to come.”
Christopher Dwyer received his bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a student of Eli Epstein and then went on to study with Dale Clevenger as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Dwyer previously served for six seasons as second horn of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under David Robertson. He has also held positions with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Sun Valley Music Festival Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he has frequently performed as a guest with other major symphony orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Among Dwyer’s other festival appearances are the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Music from Angel Fire, Bellingham, Norfolk, and the National Repertory Orchestra. He is an avid baseball fan, hiker, and craft-beer enthusiast. He is married to flutist Laura Dwyer and they share their home with two lazy Persian cats.
Announced earlier this year, Philippe Tondre joins The Philadelphia Orchestra as principal oboe. Tondre studied in Paris at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique with David Walter and Jacques Tys; he further studied with Maurice Bourgue. He is currently principal oboe of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (since March 2019), the SWR Symphonieorchester (since January 2009), the Budapest Festival Orchestra (since September 2014), the Mito Chamber Orchestra (since January 2012), and the Saito Kinen Orchestra (since January 2012).
Nicole Jordan will succeed Robert Grossman as the Orchestra’s principal librarian, as announced in June 2020. The position will bring her back to Philadelphia, where she was raised and began her career as The Philadelphia Orchestra’s library fellow from 2008 to 2011. Jordan will be the first African-American woman to join the Orchestra as a full-time member. She began her musical studies at a young age, first learning the trumpet before switching to viola while attending the Philadelphia High School for Girls. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in viola performance from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a Master of Music degree in music history from Temple University. Following her fellowship with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Jordan was appointed assistant principal librarian of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in October 2011. In 2016 she was promoted to principal librarian, becoming the first African-American to hold that position at a major orchestra.
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