Robert Ambrose (conductor) - Appointments

Appointments

An ardent supporter of contemporary and avant-garde music, Ambrose is co-founder, co-artistic director and conductor of the contemporary music ensemble Bent Frequency. Composed of members of the Atlanta Symphony and Opera Orchestras as well as musicians from Atlanta’s independent music community, the ensemble has been hailed by Gramophone Magazine as “one of the brightest ensembles on the scene,” and by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as “ a suddenly indispensable part of the Atlanta music scene.” Since their inception in 2003, they have received widespread critical acclaim for their musical virtuosity and innovative programming.

Ambrose is also founder and music director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble (MAYWE) program. Currently consisting of the flagship Wind Ensemble, a Jazz Ensemble, and a Percussion Ensemble, the MAYWE program is highly selective and is made up of over one hundred of the most talented high school musicians from the greater Atlanta area. MAYWE ensembles have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall as well as at the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

Ambrose is the founder and music director of the Atlanta Chamber Winds, a professional wind dectet. The ensemble released its first CD "Music from Paris" in 2009 on Albany Records to a warm critical reception. The American Record Guide noted, "This is some of the best teamwork one willhear—every rhythm in place, every note and timbre beautifully shaped, every chord tuned and balanced to perfection." Fanfare Magazine stated, "These performances under Robert J. Ambrose . . . are nothing less than impeccable and thoroughly idiomatic: a group of actual French musicians could not improve upon them."

Ambrose is currently Director of Wind Studies and Ensembles and Associate Director of the School of Music at Georgia State University. His primary responsibilities are conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and University Chamber Winds, coordinating the Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting degree program, and overseeing all aspects of the undergraduate music program. Under his direction the Georgia State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble released their first CD, American Manuscripts in 2009.