Prof. Carlos Carrillo is New Conductor of Wabash Valley Youth Symphony

November 9, 2007

November 9, 2007, Greencastle, Ind. - "The Wabash Valley Youth Symphony has a new conductor. Carlos Carrillo, a DePauw University assistant professor of music, has replaced Alfred Abel at the music director's position for the local symphony made up of Greater Lafayette's youngest classical music stars," reports today's Journal and Courier of Lafayette, Indiana. (photo: Tim Brouk/Journal & Courier)

Tim Brouk writes, "Carrillo, 39, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended Eastman School of Music, Yale University and University of Pennsylvania. Carrillo will make his live debut with the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony at 7 tonight at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St. The concert is free."

Dr. Carrillo tells the newspaper, "Most recently I was composing in Italy. Then I was a fellow composer in the American Composers Orchestra in New York City. I wrote a piece for them that debuted in January 2005 at Carnegie Hall. I have been writing music for different groups in the United States, and I teach composition and theory at DePauw." 

In a brief Q&A with the newspaper, the professor is asked what skills a person needs to become a conductor. "I studied classes at Eastman and Yale. If you are musical, that is a great advantage. You have to be able to keep tempo and how to move your body to get the players to react. You're not just up there moving your arms. It's your whole body and expression. Also, you have to hear how things sound and if something is out of tune. You have to hear and conduct at the same time."

Access the item at the Journal and Courier's Web site.

The New York Times called Carrillo's composition, Algunas metáforas que aluden al tormento, a la angustia y a la Guerra, "fetching" and "alive." Read more in this previous story.

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