In the fall of 2007, Ward Stare began his tenure as the Los Angeles Philharmonic's American Symphony Orchestra League Conducting Fellow. Stare was trained as a trombonist at the Juilliard School and, at the age of 18, was appointed Principal Trombone of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He has performed as guest trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, among others. As a soloist, he has given performances in both Europe and the U.S.

Stare studied conducting with Maestro Janos Furst and Maestro Jorma Panula, as well as composition and musical analysis with Michel Merlet. He spent two summers working with David Zinman in the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival, and was awarded both the Robert J. Harth Conductor Prize (2006) and the Aspen Conducting Prize (2007).

In August 2007, Stare made his debut with the Cleveland Orchestra at the famed Blossom Music Center. Other recent engagements include appearances with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, in both Russia and the U.S., as well as an invitation to perform for the King of Thailand as part of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra's "Great Artists of the World" Series.

Upcoming engagements include concerts with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and the UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, as well as concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on both the Toyota Symphonies for Youth and Neighborhood Concert Series.

11/07