Erik Ochsner, Music Director

Finnish-American conductor Erik Ochesner is honored and thrilled to be the new Artistic Director and Music Director of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. he first appeared with the orchestra to conduct performances of Ghostbusters Live in Concert in 2022; subsequently he has been invited back as a guest conductor seven times culminating in his hiring. 

Ochsner’s versatility as a conductor has stretched across a broad range of repertoire: from conducting as few as five performers in contemporary and modern works, to leading 300 performers across 20+ full length films using the Live in Concert format. Audiences and critics alike praise Ochsner’s energy, attention to detail, and precise synchronization.

Highlights of his appearances in Youngstown: Mahler Symphony No. 1, Strauss’ Overture to Die Fledermaus, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23, a specially curated concert including 7 works called Unknown and Gorgeous: River and Iron, which featured the US premieres of Uuno Klami’s Kalevala Suite, and Eugene Kapp’s Kalevipoeg Ballet Suite (1947), plus Respighi’s Pines of Rome; two more film concerts, Home Alone in Concert, and Back to the Future in Concert: a concert featuring The Vindys and the YSO, a narrated Superheroes concert, a Romeo and Juliet concert with soprano Avery Boettcher, and a concert with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 and 2 pieces of Luigi Cherubini. 

Most recently, Ochsner conducted three performances of Lion King (1994) Live in Concert, and three performances of Frozen Live in Concert with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Upcoming performances include performances of Star Wars in Concert: Episode 6: Return of the Jedi and Nightmare Before Christmas with the Filmharmonique orchestra in Edmonton, Canada, and Lion King (1994) Live in Concert in Oman. 

Working with his friend Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Ochsner commissioned Tom Chapin and John Forster to create a new piece for three actors and chamber orchestra: Grandfather Camp: An Orchestral Fantasy. The story is based on Dr. Ruth’s writings about grandparenting. A successful development workshop took place, and the piece is currently being orchestrated for future performance!

Ochsner’s long relationship with the Krakow International Film Music Festival have been hugely successful leading sold out performances in a 16,000 seat arena of Pixar in Concert, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King (1994) (all performed in Polish), plus Disney in Concert: The Magic of Music with the Krakow Film Festival Youth Orchestra.

As Principal Touring Conductor for La La Land Live in Concert, Ochsner conducted 50 performances across the globe of Justin Hurwitz’s Academy Award and Grammy Award winning score, often performing with two of the original recording artists, pianist Randy Kerber, and trumpeter Wayne Bergeron. 

Ochsner conducted the world premiere of Mary Poppins (1964) with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Symphony Opera House; made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducting Love Actually; on 40 hours’ notice, he flew to Taipei to conduct Beauty and the Beast in Concert to fill in for an ailing colleague; at the Nanjing Forest Music Festival in China, he conducted a concert of 18 suites of Hollywood film music; Music Director of the 2017 Opera America New Works Showcase in New York City. In collaboration with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottowa, Ochsner led the premiere of The Music of Star Wars featuring the iconic music of John Williams, as well as award-winning video game composers Gordy Haab and Kyle Newmaster. 

Other Film projects he has conducted include: Back to the Future, Beauty and the Beast (2017), Batman (1989), bugs Bunny at the Symphony, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Frozen, Ghostbusters, Home Alone, La La Land, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pixar in Concert, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars in Concert: Episodes 4, 5, and 6.

Equally comforable on the concert stage or leading opera, oratorio, and mutli-media performances, he has performed in Adelaide, Athens, Beijing, Budapest, Calgary, Dallas, Dammam, Detroit, Indianapolis, Jakarta, Kitchener-Waterloo, Krakow, Leipzig, Louisiana, Louisville, Melbourne, México City, Montreal, Monterrey, Moscow, Nashville, New York, Ottowa, Portland, Reykjavik, Richmond, Rochester, Round Top, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Shanghai, Sofia, South Bend, St. Louis, St. Petersberg, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tampere, Tokyo, Vancouver, Wellington, and Youngstown. 

He is Founder and Music Director of SONOS Chamber Orchestra which performed Rite of Spring in an arrangement for 4 pianos and 2 percussionists. The New York Times said, “All the hallmarks of a great “Rite” were here.”

During an 8-year collaboration, Ochsner served as Rehearsal Conductor for Academy Award winning composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Highlights include Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master for The First Emperor workshop, a Metropolitan Opera commission, and Cover conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for the world premiere of The Map, a multimedia cello featuring Yo-Yo Ma, with performances in Boston, Carnegie Hall, and Tanglewood.

The Bulgarian Monitor said, “Sensuality and synchronicity, matched by perfection, accompanied each of the melodies during La La Land: Live in Concert.” Radio Canada wrote, “[Ochsner} was of remarkable precision to the musical direction…the music of the orchestra seemed to emanate from the film. There was no distinction between the screen and the stage.” The Ontario Arts Review has said “Watch this man, he is brilliant.”

Recordings include Brian Wilbur Grundstrom: An Orchestral Journey (CD), and Tea: A Mirror of Soul (DVD).

Ochsner attended The Pierre Monteux School and is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He speaks French, German, and Italian. His mentors and teachers include Robert Spano, Charles Bruck, Erich Kunzel, Marin Alsop, and Helmuth Riling. He lives in New York City, loves traveling, wine, and collecting requiem recordings. 

Amanda Beagle, Soprano

Soprano Amanda Beagle has enjoyed a versatile career spanning theater, operetta, cabaret, and music education. She made her New York City debut at Lincoln Center in the Little Orchestra Society’s Babes in Toyland and has toured the world as a featured vocalist with Holland America Cruise Lines, dropping anchor in nearly 35 countries. 

A frequent performer at iconic New York venues including the Metropolitan Room, Sardi’s and Don’t Tell Mama, Ms. Beagle also toured with her acclaimed show, The Italian American Songbook, appearing at major Italian festivals throughout the northeast. Her regional theater credits include Les Misérables, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, and Into the Woods. She has appeared as a soloist with the W.D. Packard Concert Band, the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, the Greenville Symphony, Lake Chautauqua’s Floating Stage, and the Arts on Atlantic concert series. 

A former Miss Ohio and Miss America Talent Award winner, Ms. Beagle is also a dedicated educator and certified Estill Voice Trainer, maintaining a thriving private studio of nearly fifty students. Amanda’s studio was featured just this month in the annual W.D. Packard Band Christmas Spectacular. 

She recently served as assistant chorus master for Opera Western Reserve’s production of Faust and is a proud teaching artist with SMARTS – Students Motivated by the Arts, a community arts school in downtown Youngstown. There she develops and facilitates theater curriculum for students with special needs, advancing the SMARTS mission she first championed on the Miss America stage and throughout her year of service as Miss Ohio. 

Ms. Beagle holds a degree in voice from Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music, studied Italian opera with Lorenzo Malfatti in Lucca, Italy, and earned a Master of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. She resides in Howland with her husband, Pedro, and daughter, Ava. 

Learn more about Amanda at www.AmandaBeagle.com and connect on Instagram @amandabeaglevocalstudio. 

Leroy Anderson                                                                                      Christmas Festival
(1908-1975)

Frederick Delius                                                                                     Sleigh Ride
(1862-1934)

Leroy Anderson                                                                                      Sleigh Ride
(1908-1975)

Tim Berens                                                                                                A Winter Miracle
(b. 1960)

Émile Waldteufel                                                                                    Les Patineurs (The Skater’s Waltz)
(1837-1915)

Johann Strauss                                                                                         Wiener Blut Waltz (Vienna Life) Op. 354
(1825-1899)

Johann Strauss                                                                                         Thunder and Lightning Polka
(1825-1899)

Johann Strauss                                                                                         Radetzky March
(1825-1899)

-INTERMISSION-

James Pierpont arr. John Wasson                                                     Jingle Bells Fantasy
(1822-1893)

George Frideric Handel                                                                      Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah
(1685-1759)

Arr. Peter Jaffe                                                                                          Symph-Hanukkah
(b. 1957)

George Wyle                                                                                             It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
(1916-2003)

John Rutter                                                                                                I Wish You Christmas
(b. 1945)

Phillip Springer (arr. Don Pippin, orch. Larry Blank)             Santa Baby
(b. 1926)

Robert Allen (lyrics by Al Stillman)                                                 (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
(1927-2000)

Adolphe Adam                                                                                         O Holy Night
(1803-1856)
Amanda Beagle, Soprano

Johnny Marks                                                                                           Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1803-1856)

Felix Mendelssohn                                                                                 Hark, the Herald Angels
(1809-1874)

Gene Autry                                                                                                Here Comes Santa Claus
(1907-1998)

Arr. Arthur Harris                                                                                  We Wish You A Merry Christmas
(1803-1856)