About the Orchestra
The St. Louis Civic Orchestra, a not-for-profit organization composed of over 65 talented members, is dedicated to improving the quality of the musical culture in the local area. With an eye toward a bright future, the orchestra is thriving under Artistic Director Edward Dolbashian and Concertmaster Paul Huppert.Click here to read about the history of the orchestra.
Biographies
Artistic Director Edward Dolbashian
As an oboist, Mr. Dolbashian was a member of the Hartford (Connecticut) Symphony Orchestra and the Hartford Symphony Woodwind Quintet for ten years.
He also served as principal oboist of the Hartford Chamber Orchestra. He subsequently received a Master of Musical Arts Degree from Yale University, where he studied under Otto Werner-Mueller.
Maestro Dolbashian received further training during several summer seasons at the Pierre Monteaux School of Conducting (directed by Maestro Charles Bruck) and at the Tanglewood Festival with renowned Maestros Leonard Bernstein, Andre Previn, and Seiji Ozawa.
Director of Orchestras and Orchestra Conducting Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia since 1985, Edward Dolbashian leads the University Philharmonic, which has won numerous awards and has received many invitations to perform locally, regionally, and nationally. In April of 2006, the University Philharmonic was invited to perform at the prestigious Music Educators National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mr. Dolbashian made his solo oboe debut in New York City in 1969. His first position on the podium was Conductor of the Holyoke Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts. In addition to his positions at the University of Missouri and with our orchestra, Mr. Dolbashian was the Music Director of the Alton (Illinois) Symphony from 1998 until 2009 and has been the Music Director of the Compton Heights Concert Band of St. Louis since 1998. He conducts over thirty concerts a year with a diverse range of musical styles and venues. He has collaborated with guest artists such as William Warfield, Philip Quint, David Halen, Xiang Gao, Doc Severinson, Peter Nero, and Arturo Sandoval.
Googling “Edward Dolbashian” on the web brings “hits”with an abundance of praise for the musical skill and dedication in our community.
Concertmaster, Paul Huppert
Paul Huppert, newly appointed Concertmaster of St. Louis Civic Orchestra, began violin studies at the age of seven, moving rapidly through the Suzuki Violin Method. He began formal concert appearances as a recitalist and a soloist with orchestra at the age of nine. While a student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Mr. Huppert was a recipient of the Emil Hermann Award in violin. He appeared as guest concertmaster and soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra and was appointed Associate Concertmaster of the West Virginia Symphony. During this time, he was also a substitute in the violin section in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Since then, he has held the positions of Principal Second Violin (Fort Wayne Philharmonic), Concertmaster (Savannah Symphony), Associate Concertmaster (Charlotte (NC) Symphony), and Acting Concertmaster (Charlotte Symphony). In addition to solo and guest appearances throughout the United States, he has served as a section violinist with the Grant Park, Chautauqua, and Peninsula Festival Orchestras.
Currently, Mr. Huppert serves as Principal Second Violin (Illinois Symphony Orchestra), Concertmaster (St. Louis Chamber Orchestra), and Associate Concertmaster (Bach at the Seminary Series). Mr. Huppert regularly performs with the Fox Theater Orchestra and Union Avenue Opera. He teaches in string programs in public schools in Webster Groves and University City.
In 2006, Mr. Huppert (along with the help of Evangelical United Church of Christ in Webster Groves) started the Spectrum Music Series, which promotes chamber music performance in various locations across the metropolitan region.
Paul Huppert is the owner of Noteworthy Music LLC (noteworthyonline.net), an entertainment, education, and chamber music promotion business launched in 2002. He is a business partner with Online Lesson Videos (onlinelessonvideos.com). Later this year, he will be launching an Internet-based, live violin teaching service (violinwhisperer.com).