Hailed as “one of the great talents in the USA at the moment” by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Brazilian-American conductor Austin Chanu is the newly appointed Music Director of The Syracuse Orchestra. He has also earned recognition as a four time recipient of the Career Assistance Award from the ...

Hailed as “one of the great talents in the USA at the moment” by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Brazilian-American conductor Austin Chanu is the newly appointed Music Director of The Syracuse Orchestra. He has also earned recognition as a four time recipient of the Career Assistance Award from the Solti Foundation U.S., and as the third prize and orchestra prize winner in the Korean National Symphony Orchestra International Conducting Competition.

In the 25-26 season, Austin made debuts with The Syracuse Orchestra, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra. He has also been named a finalist in The Mahler Competition 2026 and will compete in June conducting the Bamberger Symphoniker. In recent seasons, he has appeared as a guest conductor with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica Banatul Timișoara, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Omaha Symphony.

Previously, Austin was the Assistant Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he assisted Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. During this time, he co-lead a project to restore, rebuild, and elevate the underperformed works of American composer William Grant Still. He helped create and conducted the world premiere of a newly restored edition of Still’s Wood Notes.

Austin made his subscription debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra conducting Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Critics commended his interpretation saying, “the orchestra never sounded better as Chanu led with primal energy and shamanistic insight into the music… the orchestra matched Chanu’s confident leadership in a performance of searing energy and heart-thumping passion” (Broad Street Review).

Austin has a passion for contemporary music, stemming from his own background as a composer. He served as a teaching artist and conductor for the LA Philharmonic Association’s Associate Composer Program, as well as a Conducting Fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, where he studied with conductor Cristian Măcelaru. He was commissioned by the Eastman School of Music to compose an orchestral work for the school’s centennial celebration and conducted its world premiere in the Fall of 2021.

Austin was also formerly the Music Director for the Los Angeles Music and Art School, where he conducted and developed the artistic direction for the youth orchestra, choirs, and jazz band. Austin found it rewarding to draw on his Latino heritage to foster representation for the predominantly Latinx students and families in the program through repertoire selection.

In addition to his orchestral background, Austin has extensive experience in jazz and musical theatre styles. While living in Los Angeles, he was a high-call woodwind performer for musical pit orchestras and jazz ensembles.

Austin received a B.M. in Music Composition from the USC Thornton School of Music, graduating Magna cum Laude. He also graduated from the Eastman School of Music with an M.M. and DMA in Orchestral Conducting.

Julia Ebner is an active classical singer who has been praised for her “vocally and dramatically superb,” performances. Ms. Ebner has taken the stage for companies including The Santa Fe Opera, The Florida Grand Opera, Opera North, Virginia Opera, Winter Opera St. Louis, Opera San Antonio, Ash Lawn Opera, ...

Julia Ebner is an active classical singer who has been praised for her “vocally and dramatically superb,” performances. Ms. Ebner has taken the stage for companies including The Santa Fe Opera, The Florida Grand Opera, Opera North, Virginia Opera, Winter Opera St. Louis, Opera San Antonio, Ash Lawn Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Bel Cantanti Opera, Green Mountain Opera Festival, Syracuse Opera, Opera in the Heights, The Tri-Cities Opera, Amherst Early Music Festival, Oswego Opera Theater, Chelsea Opera, Buffalo Opera Unlimited and The Charleston Chamber Opera. Ms. Ebner has also had the honor of singing in the chorus of the Metropolitan Opera for productions of Fidelio, Otello, and Turandot.

A versatile concert performer as well, Ms. Ebner’s credits include Handel’s Messiah, Mahler’s Rückert Lieder and Bach’s Magnificat with Symphoria. She has also sung as the soloist for Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony and Dona Nobis Pacem, Brahms’ Requiem, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Symphoria at Hamilton College., Haydn’s Last Seven Words of Christ in DeWitt, New York, Mozart’s Requiem in Binghamton, New York, and Haydn’s Missa Brevis in F at Syracuse University. She has also sung the soprano solos in Mozart’s Missa Brevis in F and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore with the Syracuse Masterworks Chorale and Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living with the Downtown Singers of Binghamton. Recognized for her talent for both early music and new music, she has frequently performed as the soprano soloist for the Binghamton Baroque Ensemble as well as The Society for New Music.

Ms. Ebner’s teaching experience includes teaching voice with Syracuse University and LeMoyne College as well as leading choirs at LeMoyne College and SUNY Cortland. She also directs the Opera Workshop and teaches Vocal Literature for Syracuse University. She is also sought after for her award winning choreography and dance teaching experience with her work being performed both locally and in North Carolina and Florida.

Ms. Ebner earned her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance at Syracuse University, and her Masters of Music in Opera at Binghamton University.

Nationally acclaimed baritone Timothy LeFebvre has wide-ranging experience from the operatic stage to the concert hall. Recent performances include Dett’s The Ordering of Moses at Oberlin Conservatory, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with New Dominion Chorale (Washington, DC), Brahms’ Requiem with Hamilton College, Bach’s Saint John Passion with Spoleto ...

Nationally acclaimed baritone Timothy LeFebvre has wide-ranging experience from the operatic stage to the concert hall. Recent performances include Dett’s The Ordering of Moses at Oberlin Conservatory, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with New Dominion Chorale (Washington, DC), Brahms’ Requiem with Hamilton College, Bach’s Saint John Passion with Spoleto Festival USA, Vaughan-Williams’ Dona nobis pacem with Binghamton University, Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Butler County Symphony, Britten’s War Requiem with Wichita Symphony, and Haydn’s Mass in Time of War with Symphoria (Syracuse, NY).

Mr. LeFebvre has appeared in concert with the Jacksonville Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Wichita Symphony, Pensacola Symphony, Evansville Symphony, Symphoria (Syracuse), Butler County Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Symphony, Minnesota Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Binghamton Philharmonic, Rochester Bach Festival, Berkshire Choral Festival, New Dominion Chorale, Williamsport Symphony, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, Syracuse Chamber Music Society, the Skaneateles Festival and the Marlboro Music Festival. He has also appeared in concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall.

LeFebvre’s operatic experience features performances with Central City Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Sarasota Opera, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Syracuse Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Delaware, and Opera Theater of Pittsburgh.

Mr. LeFebvre graduated with honors from Carnegie Mellon University and Binghamton University, and previously taught at Binghamton University, Cornell University, Syracuse University, Colgate University and Hamilton College. During the summer, LeFebvre is the Young Artists Division Head for Bel Canto in Tuscany. He is currently Professor of Voice at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he is also division director of vocal studies. A frequent and favorite performer in the Syracuse area, LeFebvre has sung numerous concerts and operas with Symphoria, Syracuse Symphony, and Syracuse Opera.