Music Director

Now in his fifth season as Music Director of the Seven Hills Sinfonietta in Cincinnati, OH, Maestro Wheatley is quickly establishing a reputation as a builder of orchestras. Working closely during his tenure with a very dedicated and passionate board, the orchestra has increased significantly in size, relocated to an expansive new concert venue, established new relationships with grant-giving organizations, and has greatly expanded its orchestral library. With each season, he has led this orchestra to perform ever more substantial and challenging works of the orchestral repertoire. This year, they are celebrating their 36th season.

Maestro Wheatley’s conducting teachers have included Christopher Zimmerman, Vassily Sinaisky, Edward Benyas, and Gerhard Samuel.  He is an alumnus of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Hancock, Maine, and Peter the Great Music Academy, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Active as a conductor, violinist, and classical music educator, he has collaborated with scores of professional artists, including soprano Barbara Paver, tenor Thomas Baresel, violinist and pedagogue Kurt Sassmannshaus, cellist William Grubb, and composers Marjan Mozetich, Amy Scuria, and Philip Koplow.  He regularly serves as a judge at music competitions throughout the Midwest and frequently works with youth orchestras.

In addition to his post here in Cincinnati, he was recently appointed the Associate Conductor of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, where he will conduct in 6 concerts this season, including regular educational outreach concerts for students of all ages.  He has been a guest conductor on three continents, most recently in Russia and the Ukraine.  In early 2008, at the invitation of Vassily Sinaisky, he assisted with the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, UK.  Guest engagements this year include a debut with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in December.

Mr. Wheatley has recorded on the Centaur and Claremont record labels.

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