Ronald L. Feldman

Ronald Feldman

Artist in Residence in Orchestral and Instrumental Activities/Lecturer in Music, Director of the Berkshire Symphony

413-597-3379
Bernhard Music Center Rm 28

Director of the Berkshire Symphony

Education

B.M. Boston University School for the Arts, Cello Performance (1971)

Courses

MUS 382 SEM

Orchestral Conducting (not offered 2024/25)

Biography

Twice winner of the American Symphony League’s ASCAP Award for Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music, Ronald Feldman has achieved critical acclaim for his work as conductor and cellist. He has appeared as guest conductor with major orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Saint Louis Symphony, and the Quebec Symphony, as well as many regional orchestras including the Pro Arte Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Albany Symphony, and the Amarillo Symphony. In August of 2016 Mr. Feldman recorded three albums of music by Kevin Kaska with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

After successful appearances as guest conductor for three consecutive seasons at Symphony Hall and at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony’s summer home, composer and Conductor John Williams appointed Mr. Feldman Assistant Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. He served as assistant to John Williams from 1989-1993.

Maestro Seiji Ozawa, Conductor Laureate of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, called Maestro Feldman “an outstanding conductor…I find him to have a deep musical mind which is clearly conveyed through his performances….”

John Williams, composer & Conductor Laureate of the Boston Pops Orchestra called Maestro Feldman, “a brilliant conductor, who displays the best leadership qualities…an outstandingly high level of musicianship that imbues his conducting style with strength, taste, and imagination”.

Mr. Feldman joined the Boston Symphony at the age of 19. He has appeared as cello soloist with many orchestras performing a wide range of concerto repertoire from Dvorak to Ligeti. His many chamber music affiliations have included performances with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Collage New Music Ensemble, the Boston Conservatory Chamber Players, and the Williams Chamber Players. His performances include collaborations with artists Emmanuel Ax, Garrick Ohlsson, Gil Shaham, and Yo Yo Ma.

Mr. Feldman currently directs the Berkshire Symphony a regional orchestra in residence at Williams College. He was formerly the conductor and Music Director of the New England Philharmonic and the Worcester Orchestra. He is on the faculty of Williams College, and was formerly on the New England Conservatory of Music, and The Boston Conservatory of Music. He was also the Music Director of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra of Boston’s medical community.

Mr. Feldman appears on a compact disk recording of an all-Mozart program with the Bucharest “George Enescu” Philharmonic. This CD received excellent reviews in the March/April 1999 issues of the American Record Guide and Fanfare Magazine.

“Feldman secures a polished and alert account of the Mozart Symphony No. 29 K.201”. Bernard Jacobson, Fanfare Magazine.

“The Mozart symphony No. 29 is given a dazzling reading, effulgent and scintillating with articulation and note length all in sync”. Steven Ritter, American Record Guide

He also conducts the London Symphony in a recording of music of John Williams and Kevin Kaska. This recording is with virtuoso trumpet player Arturo Sandoval. In 2001 Mr. Feldman left the Boston Symphony Orchestra to pursue other musical interests. He joined the faculty of Williams College where he is Artist in Residence, Lecturer in Music, Chamber Music coordinator, and Conductor of the award-winning Berkshire Symphony.