ImS-Music Director

ROMAN PAWLOWSKI, Music Director Emeritus

Beginning his twenty-first year at Immaculata, Roman Pawlowski is the inspirational force leading the Immaculata Symphony to ever greater musical success. As the university itself moves into a new era of growth and development, so too does the Symphony under his widely acclaimed artistry and musical experience. Taught by such masters as Mehli Mehta, Pierre Monteux, Max Rudolph, and Erich Leinsdorf, Maestro Pawlowski's dual role as teacher and performer derives from his belief that the art of music offers a link between all of life's experiences. As music director, and guided by his philosophy, he has broadened the musical horizons of performers and audiences alike. Maestro Pawlowski is also music director for the Delaware County Symphony and the Newark Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he appears frequently as a guest conductor.

OVIDIU MARINESCU , Music Director

Immaculata University and the Immaculata Symphony are pleased to open the 2008-2009 season of ImS under the direction of newly appointed Music Director and Conductor Ovidiu Marinescu. One of the outstanding musicians of his native Romania, Dr. Marinescu brings to the ImS podium two equally exciting and outstanding musical gifts: a precise conducting technique combined with great musical inspiration.

Known for his powerful interpretations of orchestral works by Russian composers, Marinescu was invited to record Tchaikovsky ’s Symphony No. 5 and Marche Slave with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow. This was followed by regular appearances as a guest conductor. He also appeared as principal conductor of the Goppisberg Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. Other European conducting invitations have included appearances in Romania, Spain and the Czech Republic. Equally outstanding as a cellist, Dr. Marinescu was chosen to play at a special Carnegie Hall concert for Romanian President Constantinescu. He has also performed with the New York Chamber Symphony, the National Radio Orchestra of Romania, and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

Dr. Marinescu is also the Director of the West Chester University Symphony, which under his leadership made a sold-out debut at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and embarked on its first European tour in 2004. A member of the music faculty, he has served as the conductor of numerous student festival orchestras in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

While assuming his new position of leadership with ImS, Dr. Marinescu is actually returning to Immaculata’s stage. In 1998 he and his wife, violinist Sylvia Ahramjian, performed the Brahms Double Concerto with ImS, earning rave reviews. We welcome Dr. Marinescu and anticipate equal acclaim for the artistry and inspiration he brings in his role as Conductor and Musical Director.

VICTOR VALLO , Guest Conductor (Christmas Concert 2008)

Dr. Victor Vallo is Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Immaculata University where he is also the Music Director and Conductor of the Immaculata
Wind Ensemble. Prior to coming to Immaculata
University, Dr. Vallo was at Anderson University (SC) where he was the Music Director/Conductor of the Anderson Symphony Orchestra, Coordinator of Music Education, and Director of Instrumental Activities. Dr. Vallo has also taught at Jacksonville State University (AL) where he conducted the JSU Chamber Orchestra and the Alabama Youth Symphony. While at Southern Arkansas University Dr. Vallo founded and conducted the SAU Chamber Orchestra. Throughout his career Dr. Vallo has studied conducting both in Europe and in the United States and has conducted all-state orchestras in Arkansas, Alabama, and South Carolina where he attended and graduated from the Conductors Institute. Dr. Vallo holds a Bachelor of Music Education with Performance Honors (Trumpet) from Syracuse
University, a Master of Music from George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida.

JOE GEHRING, Assistant Conductor

Mr. Gehring is a graduate of West Chester University, where he studied both piano and tuba. He has taught instrumental and general music at the Renaissance Academy Edison Charter School and at Conestoga High School in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District. He is currently the Director of Music Ministries at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Exton. An active performer and conductor, Mr. Gehring is the conductor of the West Chester Community Band, as well as Assistant Conductor for the newly formed Chester County Pops Orchestra. He has also conducted the Pennsylvania Flute Choir and the ImBRASSadors, a brass ensemble composed of the principal players of the ImS. Mr. Gehring has recently been accepted into the Masters Degree program for Orchestral/Wind Conducting at Shenandoah Conservatory.