Chelsea Tipton II Conducts Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall

(Photo by Matt H., Jay K. Hoffman & Associates, Inc.)

Maestro Chelsea Tipton II is Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. His prior positions and his prolific work as a guest conductor have given him considerable exposure to leading U.S. orchestras. His agent, Jay K. Hoffman & Associates, Inc., elaborates at its website:

“As a sought-after guest conductor, Tipton has appeared with major orchestras in the United States, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, among others.”

The agent explains that Tipton prepared himself for careers in both conducting and clarinet performance:

"Tipton earned a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from the Eastman School of Music, with additional studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Hancock, Maine."

As a clarinet player, Chelsea Tipton II performed with numerous major orchestras and virtuoso instrumentalists, and recorded for three record labels. He has taught at Central Michigan University as an Assistant Professor, and was also Director of the Central Michigan University Band. Tipton has also been a Visiting Professor in clarinet and chamber music at Western Michigan University. His bio continues:

"Prior to his appointment with the Toledo Symphony, Tipton was Associate Conductor with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for four seasons and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra for three seasons."

As noted on this blog on July 28, 2007, in a post entitled “Black and Latino String Players at Carnegie Hall”, Chelsea Tipton II is the conductor for the “Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall”, at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 in the Stern Auditorium. An Afterglow will be held in the Rohatyn Room & Shorin Club at Carnegie Hall. The Sphinx Organization summarizes the evening's performers and repertoire:

“The concert will feature the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, comprised of top alumni of the prestigious Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players, under the direction of Maestro Chelsea Tipton II. Top Sphinx Competition Laureates will be performing as soloists, and the Harlem Quartet will also perform. Inspired by Sphinx’s artistic mission of building diversity in classical music, the program will offer standard repertoire along with masterpieces by Black and Latino composers.”