Bach, Mozart, & Haydn

Entering his second season as Music Director of the Kennett Symphony, Maestro Michael Hall is recognized for his inspired performances, imaginative programming and passion for developing new audiences. Notable achievements in Hall’s first season include the orchestra’s first free concert, first ever commission to celebrate their 75th anniversary, free admission to dress rehearsals, and an expanded orchestra on stage. Hall’s career includes guest appearances with some of the finest orchestras in North America, including the Houston Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Toledo Symphony, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, the Windsor Symphony, as well as the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. In Central America, Hall has worked with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica. This season includes re-engagements with the Space Coast Symphony and the Tucson Symphony, with whom he has a special relationship and has been a frequent guest conductor in multiple concert series over the past nine seasons.

Formerly Music Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony from 2007 to 2012, Hall’s drive for artistic excellence, innovative thematic programming, and collaborations with celebrated guest artists resulted in unprecedented artistic growth, audience praise, and enthusiastic reviews. Some of the Southwest Florida Symphony’s highlights during Maestro Hall’s tenure include two world premieres commissioned and performed for the orchestra’s 50th anniversary season and pioneering the Orchestra’s first “Discovery” concert – a multimedia educational concert experience designed as an entry point to bring new audiences to symphonic music. Hall also planned, developed and executed the groundbreaking “Glow in the Dark” concert experience. Targeting younger audiences, the program offered real-time program notes accessible on their mobile devices during the performance. This program received national attention in Symphony magazine.

The successful partnerships between Hall and the orchestras he has collaborated with have received consistent critical acclaim:

“Hall really took charge in Gustav Holst’s Mars, The Bringer of War and was true to the written manuscript in a way that few conductors are today.” (Winnipeg Free Press)

“Hall’s allegros were brisk, sculpted, crisp. In some of the quiet, slow movements, Hall dared to be extra quiet and extra slow, striking a mood but never losing the line.”
(Orange County Register)

“Hall’s sense of phrasing, magical sweep, and care for a blended balance, all added up to a sensational performance. The build-up pathway to the final coda was simply thrilling. The manner in which the {Southwest Florida Symphony}orchestra has continued to grow in musical style and discipline under his direction has been awesome.”(Naples Daily News)

The concert concluded with Dvorak’s Symphony no.9 “From the New World’. Without the score, Hall was immersed in his music, his audience transfixed in their own new world. This was the Kennett Symphony as they had never heard before. Hall raised the bar in this first concert of the conductor search series to quite a height.; an opening concert that had the audience giving standing ovations and cries of ‘Bravo!’ (Chadds Ford Live)

Before being appointed Music Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony, Michael Hall held the position of Associate Conductor with the Pacific Symphony in California, where he developed innovative Family Concerts based on his own original scripts. Hall’s success in California led to his initial three year position being extended to an unprecedented six year tenure.

During Michael’s appointment as Resident Conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, he worked with the orchestra in every concert series, most notably in their acclaimed New Music Festival. Upon completion of his tenure, Hall was awarded the “Keys to the City” by Mayor Glen Murray for his outstanding contributions to the arts.

Maestro Hall has developed a reputation as a keen educator of young musicians, having conducted many noteworthy college and youth orchestras including the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University. During the 2012/13 season, Hall was Visiting Guest Artist, Conductor in Residence at Ball State University’s School of Music in Indiana.

Hall holds a Master’s degree in conducting from the University of Michigan, studying with renowned conducting pedagogue Gustav Meier, and a DipRAM from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he worked with Sir Colin Davis. While studying in England, Hall also held the position of Assistant conductor of the Havant Symphony Orchestra in the UK.

Recognized for his talent among his peers, Maestro Hall was a finalist in the International Conducting Competition in Besançon France, and was awarded Third Prize in the Cadaques Orchestra International Conducting Competition in Spain.