WMYA Episode 2 – Allan Dennis interview
This week’s episode of WMYA features an interview with Midwest Young Artists director Allan Dennis.
About Allan
Dr. Allan Dennis brings a rich heritage of experience and energy to the Midwest Young Artists programs, with over a quarter century of experience motivating, rehearsing and teaching young people. He is currently the Music Director of the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra. Former youth orchestra conducting positions have included the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, WI, the North Shore Youth Orchestra, the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra, and many all-state and festival orchestras. Former professional orchestra conducting positions include associations with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony. He has conducted and taught at the University of Evansville, The University of Northern Iowa, the University of Southwestern Louisiana, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Skidmore College. As well as conducting symphonic literature, he has conducted shows, operas and ballets. In addition, he was chosen as both an Active Conductor at the Festival at Sandpoint and a Fellow at the Conductors’ Institute in South Carolina. During the summer of 1995, he participated in the conducting program at the Tanglewood Institute in Lennox, MA. His conducting teachers have included Gunther Schuller, Harold Farbermann, and David Effron.
Dr. Dennis is also a versatile and accomplished string player who has performed extensively both as a soloist and orchestra member. He has performed as the principal or co-principal bassist with the Albany Symphony, Cedar Rapids Symphony and Madison Symphony. He has also conducted and/or performed with many non-classical artists including Bob Hope, Liberace, John Denver and Red Skelton.
Dr. Dennis received his doctorate, with distinction, from Indiana University in Bloomington, and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York at Fredonia. He has studied at the Eastman School of Music and at the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Music in Antwerp, Belgium.
Stay tuned for more multimedia content each and every week from Midwest Young Artists!
