Two Indian-Americans have received the 2017 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award. The award encourages young musicians in the early stages of their classical careers.
Roger Kalia, who is the assistant conductor of Orange County-based ‘Pacific Symphony’ and Sameer Patel, the associate conductor of San Diego-based ‘San Diego Symphony’, are among 9 conductors to be honored with the award.
Kalia, is also the co-founder and music director of the Lake George Music Festival in upstate New York and music director of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is the second assistant conductor in the Pacific Symphony to have his contract extended for two additional years.
His recent and upcoming engagements include the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta at Symphony Hall, Long Beach Symphony, Great Falls Symphony, Owensboro Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Adrian Symphony, and Bakersfield Symphony.
A native of New York, Kalia has also served as the cover conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony.
A recipient of the 2013 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Kalia conducted the Memphis Symphony in 2011 after winning second prize in their International Conducting Competition, which led to his debut the following season and launched his professional career. In 2011, he served as a fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, chosen by Marin Alsop.
Patel is serving his second season as the associate conductor of the San Diego Symphony, where he served as assistant conductor for one season before promotion.
He also begins his tenure as associate conductor of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony this summer 2017.
Patel’s recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include subscription debuts with the San Diego Symphony, The Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, and the La Jolla Symphony, and appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and Naples Philharmonic.
Patel, who is a graduate of the University of Michigan, has guest conducted with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, Leipziger Sinfonieorchester, and Orchestra Giovanile Italiana.
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