Corrado Rovaris, Artosphere Festival Orchestra Music Director
Corrado Rovaris is Music Director of the Opera Company of Philadelphia (since 2004), and Principal Conductor of the Orchestra I Virtuosi Italiani. A regular guest in many prestigious opera houses, Mr. Rovaris’ opera history includes multiple productions at Teatro alla Scala (Milan), Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence), Teatro La Fenice (Venice), Teatro Comunale di Bologna, the Opera de Lyon, Theatre Municipal de Lausanne, the Rossini Opera Festival (Pesaro), the Santa Fe Opera and the Glimmerglass Opera.
Christopher Parkening, Artosphere Chamber Music Series Music Director
Christopher Parkening is ranked as one of the world’s preeminent classical guitar virtuosos. As The Washington Post cited, he is “the leading guitar virtuoso of our day combining profound musical insight with complete technical mastery of his instrument,” and the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Parkening is considered America’s reigning classical guitarist, carrying the torch of his mentor, the late Andrés Segovia.” And the great Spanish guitarist Segovia proclaimed that “Christopher Parkening is a great artist—he is one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world.”
Andrea Packard, Guest Curator
Andrea Packard is a Philadelphia-based curator and artist. Since 1995, Packard has directed the List Gallery at Swarthmore College. She has also served as a art juror, panelist, curator, lecturer, and instructor at varied institutions including the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts in New York; the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, and Oglethorpe University Museum in Atlanta. Winner of numerous awards, including a residency from the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, she recently showed her work in a solo exhibition at The Philadelphia International Airport and a group exhibition at Lohin Geduld Gallery, NY. She is currently represented by the Painting Center, NY.
David Hayes, Conductor
Artosphere Festival Orchestra for the Fulbright Concerto Competition
David Hayes is the Music Director of The Philadelphia Singers and serves on the conducting staff of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He is also Director of Orchestral and Conducting Studies for the Mannes College of Music in New York City and Staff Conductor of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. A native of the Boston area, Mr. Hayes studied conducting with Charles Bruck at the Pierre Monteux School and with Otto-Werner Mueller at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Mr. Hayes is a member of the Board of Directors of Chorus America (the national service organization for the choral arts) and is chair of both its Conducting Programs Task Force and Professional Chorus Conductors Forum.
Peter B. Lane, President/CEO, Walton Arts Center
Mr. Lane comes to Walton Arts Center after most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer for the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a new $100 million arts center situated on the original site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Mr. Lane served as President and CEO of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Executive Director of the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for over a decade. A classically trained bass player, he attended San Francisco State University and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has served in management capacities for the Aspen Music Festival, the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, and both the Oakland and San Francisco Symphonies.
Jenni Taylor Swain, VP of Programs, Walton Arts Center
Ms. Swain began her career with Walton Arts Center in 1990, creating the arts education program. Today, she leads the program direction for WAC, overseeing the annual presenting season and audience development initiatives. Under Swain’s leadership, WAC presented notable performances and artists including The Lincoln Center Theater's production of South Pacific, Monty Python's SPAMALOT, Trey McIntyre Project, Pilobolus, Itzhak Perelman, YoYo Ma, Bill Cosby, Tony Bennett, and Wynton Marsalis.
Laura Goodwin, VP Learning & Engagement, Walton Arts Center
Ms. Goodwin leads community and school-based arts education programs at Walton Arts Center. She holds a BS in Textile Design from Auburn University and MFA in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her responsibilities include the development of arts learning and engagement programs serving schools, families and the Northwest Arkansas community at large. Ms. Goodwin serves as Walton’s lead representative for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of International Performing Arts for Youth, the premier North America service organization dedicated to performing arts for young people.