Maestro Collura
Education
Frank Collura, Music Director and founder of the Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony and the Young Artists Debut Orchestra holds a B.F.A. from the University of Buffalo and a M.M. in Musicology from the Manhattan School of Music. Collura began his professional career at the age of seventeen as Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, notably the youngest member to join the orchestra.
Professional
Maestro Collura has held the positions of Music Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony; Music Director of the Niagara Falls Symphony (NY); Music Director of the Cheektowaga Symphony (NY); Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic; Resident Conductor the Kansas City Ballet; Resident Guest Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Collura’s North American conducting appearances, with over 40 orchestras, include: Seattle, Indianapolis, Toledo, Oakland, Las Vegas, Corpus Christi, Grand Rapids, Honolulu, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Saskatoon (Canada), Williamsburg, Sioux City, Chattanooga, Annapolis, Tulsa, Paducah, Beverly Hills Academy Awards Orchestra, Oklahoma City, West Shore Symphony (MI), Symphony of Southeast Texas, Harrisburg, the OFUNAM of Mexico City, and The National Philharmonic, Mexico City. Said The News, Mexico City, of his performance with the Mexico City Philharmonic… “a brilliant debut… a conductor of great stature and artistic sensitivity,” and of his concert with the Mineria Orchestra of Mexico… “a stunning, unforgettable performance!”
Frank Collura has conducted for many world-famous artists such as Emanuel Ax, John Browning, Horacio Gutierrez, Lorin Hollander, Leonard Pennario, James Tocco, Ruggiero Ricci, Daniel Stabrawa, Ivry Gitlis, Charles Treger, Philip Quint, Nathaniel Rosen, Allison Eldredge, Zara Nelsova, Ransom Wilson, The Four Romeros, Gary Karr and Barry Tuckwell. His collaborations with Metropolitan Opera stars have included Lando Bartolini, Kaaren Herr-Erickson, Enrico Di Giuseppe, Shirley Love, Robert Merrill, Roberta Peters, Shirley Verrett, Rodney Gilfry and Christine Weidinger. Collura has conducted Pop Concerts for celebrated performers including, George Burns, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Ramsey Lewis, Doc Severinsen, Byron Stripling, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Tormé, Cy Coleman and many current jazz and popular artists.
Having always been a devotee of new music, Maestro Collura has conducted world-premiere performances of works by American composers, with the orchestras of Buffalo, Kansas City, Tulsa, and Phoenix. In Santa Barbara, he gave the first performance of the Concerto for Flute and Orchestra by Bohuslav Martinu, with Ransom Wilson as soloist and orchestrator. In addition, Collura gave the North American premiere performance of the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra by Sir Arthur Bliss, with Ofra Harnoy as soloist; the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Ib Glindeman, with soloist David Kuehn, and the Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra by Wilfred Josephs, with Gary Karr as soloist.
After completing conducting studies in Italy with internationally acclaimed pedagogue Maestro Franco Ferrara, Collura was named Assistant Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra by Music Director, Michael Tilson Thomas. Under Collura’s baton, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra attracted national attention with its historic concert at Attica Penitentiary, shortly following the notorious riots. Collura later conducted members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, in a fully staged television production of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat, which aired coast-to-coast on PBS. Buffalo music critics have noted… “Collura is a thoroughly satisfying musician, firmly in control but flexible in phrasing and rhythmic expression…(Collura) gave the strings room to soar!” Regarding Collura’s Pop Concert performances, the Buffalo News reported… “Collura’s inborn rhythmic instinct carries right through the orchestra and to the back wall, and there are more toe-tappers and head-bobbers at his concerts than you can count.” Concurrent with his Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra position, Frank Collura was Music Director of the Cheektowaga Symphony (NY) and the Niagara Falls Symphony Orchestra (NY).
During his tenure with the New York orchestras, Collura was appointed Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic and the Resident Conductor of the Kansas City Ballet. In Kansas City, he received great praise for his Chamber Music Series; choral presentations; sold-out “Saturday Night Specials” Pops Series; performances with the Kansas City Ballet, and his sold-out Subscription Series. “A conductor of the first rank, Mr. Collura seizes every opportunity to caress and shape musical lines. Furthermore, he moved the piece forward with Toscanini-like pulsation, while keeping the orchestra sound in perfect balance,” wrote the Kansas City Star. For his popularity in Kansas City, Collura received the prestigious award of Key To The City.
Following his success with the Kansas City Philharmonic, Collura was appointed Music Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony, from over two hundred applicants. His innovated Subscription Series programming led to concert radio broadcasts throughout Southern California, and a dramatic increase in box office sales. Attendance tripled at his Young Persons’ Concerts. During his six years as Music Director, Collura raised the Santa Barbara Symphony to new heights of critical acclaim. Declared the Santa Barbara News Press… “Orchestra builder” … “Electrifying performance!”(Rite Of Spring) … “Collura has done wonders with the orchestra” … “Collura has created an orchestra of which any city would be proud.” In recognition of his artistic and civic contributions to the Santa Barbara community, Mr. Collura was named Grand Marshall for their annual Holiday Christmas Parade.
As Resident Guest Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Collura’s imaginative programming attracted capacity audiences at his Subscription Series performances; People’s Pops Series and Chamber Music Series… “The Maestro came through with flying colors!” exclaimed the Arizona Republic.
Frank Collura made his recording debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a stellar interpretation of the film score to The Best Years of Our Lives, which was awarded Film Music Recording of the Year by High Fidelity/ Musical America Magazine... “The performance by the London Philharmonic, under Franco Collura, was entirely authentic and immaculate.” Prominent music critic Roger Hall rated Collura’s recording #3 among his Top Ten Favorite Film Scores From the 1930’s -1970’s, and # 6 of the 100 Essential Film Scores of the 20th century.
Collura’s European appearances also include The Radio and Television Orchestra of Sofia, Bulgaria and the Belgian National Orchestra… “Dynamic and perfect comprehension of Beethoven … the Belgian National Orchestra found itself to be revitalized!” reported Cité Bruxelles.
Mr. Collura has held academic positions at Buffalo State University (NY), where he was tenured; the University of California at Santa Barbara; the Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford); Niagara University (NY) and Mercyhurst University (PA). Many of his former students now occupy important positions within the music industry. At Mercyhurst University, he also presided as Music Director of the prestigious, D’Angelo International Young Artist Competition, whose prominent panel of judges included Dame Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Lorin Hollander, Franco Gulli, Elmar Oliveira and Gary Graffman.
In 1997, Collura presented the first New Year’s Day concert series, Vienna in Erie, to a sold-out audience at the D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, Mercyhurst University. For his January 1st , 2008 Vienna in Erie performance, Mr. Collura introduced the newly created Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony to an enthusiastic and capacity audience. Downloads of Maestro Collura’s performances with the Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony are available at Amazon.com, iTunes and other sites world-wide.
YADO
In 2005, furthering his interest in developing young musicians, Collura founded the Young Artists Debut Orchestra, an orchestral training program and an outreach of the Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony organization. In season 2007-2008, Collura made his Central American conducting debut with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Honduras, as a Culture Connect Envoy of the United States of America. While in Honduras, Collura directed Master Classes for exceptional music students chosen from throughout the country. The details of this event were posted on the U.S. Department of Education and Cultural Affairs website.
On July 1, 2012, Maestro Collura’s orchestras, the Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony and the Young Artists Debut Orchestra presented a concert entitled, A Star-Spangled Salute! in commemoration of the War of 1812, the Battle of Lake Erie and Independence Day. The concert, performed at the D’Angelo Performing Arts Center Mercyhurst University, was praised by the sponsoring Perry 200 Commission as “a world-class performance!”
Frank Collura resides in Erie, PA with his wife, Jessie K. Collura, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony organization.