(WICHITA, KS – September 22, 2008) – This fall, renowned American conductor Louis Salemno will add his considerable talents to Wichita Grand Opera’s production of H.M.S. Pinafore, with performances on November 1 and 2, 2008.  “We are delighted to welcome a conductor of Maestro Salemno’s caliber to Wichita,” General Director Parvan Bakardiev said.  “In addition to his expertise as a conductor, he is one of the three best vocal coaches in the United States.  I am very excited to offer our Young Artists the opportunity to work directly with such an outstanding musician.”

Mr. Salemno made his public debut as a conductor at the age of 15 with the Harrisburg (PA) Symphony, and appeared soon afterward with the Pittsburgh Symphony.  As a winner of the Walter Damrosch Award for conductors, he earned the opportunity to study in France with Nadia Boulanger, whose other students include internationally renowned musicians such as Leonard Bernstein and Daniel Barenboim. 

A frequent guest conductor at Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, and Seattle Opera, Maestro Salemno has served as Artistic Director of the Manitoba Opera in Winnipeg, Canada, and as Music Director of the Portland (OR) Opera.  He also served on the conducting staffs of the Teatro alla Scala, Barcelona’s Gran Teatro del Liceo, San Francisco Opera under the influential Kurt Adler, and Lyric Opera of Chicago under the distinguished Bruno Bartoletti.

While his talents as a conductor alone rank him as an exceptional musician, Maestro Salemno is also noted for his enthusiastic work with young and aspiring musicians.  The New York Times took note of a production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, saying, “First credit must go to conductor Louis Salemno… this marvelous score has not always been interpreted with such specific feeling… at the Metropolitan Opera, which does this piece well.”

Wichita Grand Opera will host Mr. Salemno in a Young Artists Workshop on Sunday, October 26^th from 2:00 to 5:00pm at Century II.  The workshop is open to the public for observation at a cost of $40 per person – those wishing to attend must register by calling the WGO’s offices at 316-683-3444 no later than October 24^th.

For performance tickets, call the Wichita Grand Opera Box Office at 316.262.8054 or visit www.selectaseat.com. For more information, visit WGO’s website at www.WichitaGrandOpera.org.