Role

:

Conductor

 

Markand Thakar is a renowned conductor, educator, and author in the world of classical music. Born in 1956 in Baltimore, Maryland, Thakar grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they both played in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Thakar began playing the violin at the age of six and later switched to the viola. Thakar attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, where he studied viola with Karen Tuttle and conducting with Frederik Prausnitz. He also studied conducting with Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood and with Gustav Meier at the Peabody Conservatory. Thakar received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory in 1978 and his Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan in 1980. Thakar began his career as a violist, playing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He also played with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera Company. In 1986, Thakar became the conductor of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, a position he held until 2000. During his tenure, he led the orchestra in numerous performances and recordings, including the complete symphonies of Mozart and Beethoven. In addition to his work with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Thakar has conducted many other orchestras, including the National Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted opera productions, including Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni." Thakar is also a respected educator and author. He has taught conducting at the Peabody Conservatory, the University of Michigan, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has also written several books on conducting, including "The Art of Conducting" and "Looking for the 'Harp' Quartet: An Investigation into Musical Beauty." Thakar is known for his innovative teaching methods, which focus on the physical and emotional aspects of conducting. Thakar has received numerous awards and honors for his work in classical music. In 1996, he was awarded the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2000, he received the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for Music Composition. In 2003, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the Peabody Conservatory. Thakar's conducting style is characterized by his attention to detail and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music. He is known for his expressive gestures and his ability to communicate with the musicians he is conducting. Thakar has said that his goal as a conductor is to "create a sense of community among the musicians and the audience, to bring people together through the power of music." In recent years, Thakar has continued to conduct and teach, as well as to write and speak about classical music. He has given lectures and workshops on conducting and music appreciation, and he has written articles for publications such as Symphony Magazine and The Strad. Thakar's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant, and his legacy as a conductor, educator, and author will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.

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