Raymond Harvey
With an immediately noticeable style that has been described as "elegant, but suffused with energy," Raymond Harvey has garnered critical acclaim on symphonic podiums throughout the United States.
He served as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony (MI) for 18 years. Prior to that, Maestro Harvey held similar positions with the Fresno Philharmonic (CA), Springfield Symphony (MA), and El Paso Opera (TX). He has appeared as guest conductor with more than 90 orchestras, including those of Philadelphia, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Detroit, and Minnesota, as well as the New York Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts, and the Boston Pops. Abroad he has conducted the Maggio Musicale Orchestra (Italy), Pusan Symphony (South Korea), and National Symphony Orchestra (Costa Rica). He regularly performs as a pianist, both in chamber music and as pianist/conductor in works of Gershwin, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff.
In the world of opera, among the many productions he has conducted are Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Bohème, Turandot, Aïda, La Traviata, Otello, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Il Trovatore, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Marriage of Figaro, and Porgy and Bess. He has appeared with Houston Grand Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Idaho, and Indiana University Music Theater.
Recognized as an outstanding pianist, choral conductor and teacher, Raymond Harvey holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music. He is retiring this year, after serving as Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Director for the Moores Opera Center at the University of Houston.