Role

:

Conductor

 

Barbara Day Turner is a renowned conductor and composer in the world of classical music. She was born on August 22, 1952, in San Francisco, California, to a family of musicians. Her father was a jazz pianist, and her mother was a classical pianist. From a young age, Barbara was exposed to music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Barbara's passion for music continued to grow, and she went on to study music at the University of California, Berkeley. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1974 and went on to earn her Master of Music degree in conducting from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1977. After completing her studies, Barbara began her career as a conductor and composer. She founded the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra in 1983 and served as its music director for over 30 years. Under her leadership, the orchestra gained a reputation for its innovative programming and commitment to contemporary music. Barbara has also worked with numerous other orchestras and ensembles throughout her career. She has conducted the San Francisco Symphony, the Oakland Symphony, the Berkeley Symphony, and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, among others. She has also been a guest conductor at music festivals around the world, including the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Oregon Bach Festival, and the Beijing Modern Music Festival. In addition to her work as a conductor, Barbara is also a prolific composer. She has written numerous works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. Her compositions have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Oakland Symphony, and the Kronos Quartet. Throughout her career, Barbara has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. In 1999, she was awarded the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. In 2005, she received the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's Alumni Achievement Award. In 2013, she was named a Distinguished Artist by the California State Assembly. One of the highlights of Barbara's career was her performance at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in 2015. She conducted the world premiere of her own composition, "The Architecture of Music," which was commissioned by the festival. The piece was well-received by both audiences and critics and cemented Barbara's reputation as a leading composer in the contemporary classical music scene. Barbara's dedication to contemporary music has also led her to collaborate with numerous composers throughout her career. She has worked with composers such as John Adams, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley, among others. Her commitment to new music has helped to bring contemporary classical music to a wider audience and has inspired a new generation of composers and performers. In addition to her work as a conductor and composer, Barbara is also a dedicated educator. She has taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has also served as a mentor to numerous young musicians and composers throughout her career. Barbara's contributions to classical music have been significant and far-reaching. Her innovative programming, commitment to contemporary music, and dedication to education have helped to shape the classical music scene in the United States and around the world.

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