Described as bringing an “artisan storyteller’s sensitivity… shaping passages with clarity and power via beautifully sculpted dynamics… revealing orchestral character not seen or heard before” (Arts Knoxville) Lawrence Loh enjoys a dynamic career as a conductor of orchestras all over the world.

After an extensive two ...

Described as bringing an “artisan storyteller’s sensitivity… shaping passages with clarity and power via beautifully sculpted dynamics… revealing orchestral character not seen or heard before” (Arts Knoxville) Lawrence Loh enjoys a dynamic career as a conductor of orchestras all over the world.

After an extensive two year search, Lawrence Loh was recently named Music Director of the Waco Symphony Orchestra beginning in the Spring of 2024. Since 2015, he has served as Music Director of The Syracuse Orchestra (formerly called Symphoria), the successor to the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. “The connection between the organization and its audience is one of the qualities that’s come to define Syracuse’s symphony as it wraps up its 10th season, a milestone that might have seemed impossible at the beginning,” (Syracuse.com) The Syracuse Orchestra and Lawrence Loh show that it is possible to create a “new, more sustainable artistic institution from the ground up.”

Appointed Assistant Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony in 2005, Mr Loh was quickly promoted to Associate and Resident Conductor within the first three years of working with the PSO. Always a favorite among Pittsburgh audiences, Loh returns frequently to his adopted city to conduct the PSO in a variety of concerts. Mr. Loh previously served as Music Director of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Syracuse Opera, Music Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra.

Mr. Loh’s recent guest conducting engagements include the San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Pensacola Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Seattle Symphony, National Symphony (D.C.), Utah Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Albany Symphony and the Cathedral Choral Society at the Washington National Cathedral. His summer appearances include the festivals of Grant Park, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Tanglewood with the Boston Pops, Chautauqua, Sun Valley, Shippensburg, Bravo Vail Valley, the Kinhaven Music School and the Performing Arts Institute (PA).

As a self-described “Star Wars geek” and film music enthusiast, Loh has conducted numerous sold-out John Williams and film music tribute concerts. Part of his appeal is his ability to serve as both host and conductor. “It is his enthusiasm for Williams’ music and the films for which it was written that is Loh’s great strength in this program. A fan’s enthusiasm drives his performances in broad strokes and details and fills his speaking to the audience with irresistible appeal. He used no cue cards. One felt he could speak at filibuster length on Williams’ music.” (Pittsburgh Tribune)

Mr Loh has assisted John Williams on multiple occasions and has worked with a wide range of pops artists from Chris Botti and Ann Hampton Callaway to Jason Alexander and Idina Menzel. As one of the most requested conductors for conducting Films in Concert, Loh has led Black Panther, Star Wars (Episodes 4-6), Jaws, Nightmare Before Christmas, Jurassic Park, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz and Singin’ in the Rain, among other film productions.

Lawrence Loh received his Artist Diploma in Orchestral Conducting from Yale, his Masters in Choral Conducting from Indiana University and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester. Lawrence Loh was born in southern California of Korean parentage and raised in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jennifer have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Hilary. Follow him on instagram @conductorlarryloh or Facebook at @lawrencelohconductor or visit his website, www.lawrenceloh.com

Flutist and Piccoloist Leanna Ginsburg is acting principal flute of Symphoria for the 2023-2024 season. She is a native of upstate New York and recently completed a three-year fellowship as rotating principal flute and piccolo with The Orchestra Now (TON) based at the Fischer Center in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. ...

Flutist and Piccoloist Leanna Ginsburg is acting principal flute of Symphoria for the 2023-2024 season. She is a native of upstate New York and recently completed a three-year fellowship as rotating principal flute and piccolo with The Orchestra Now (TON) based at the Fischer Center in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Leanna has performed with TON in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She can be heard on the Bridge Record albums Piano Protagonists and Buried Alive featuring pianist Orion Weiss and baritone Michael Nagy respectively.

As an orchestral musician, Leanna has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, Britt Festival Orchestra and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed in the Chautauqua Music Festival, Orchestra Next, National Music Festival, and Eastern Music Festival. As a soloist, Leanna won the Farwell Trust Award from the Chicago Musician’s Club of Women. She also received the Walfrid Kujala Scholarship at Northwestern University. In addition to performing, Leanna is an active educator and has a private flute studio of students from all over the United States. She is on faculty at the Bard Preparatory Summer Music Camp. Leanna is also passionate about community outreach. She spent a year working for the nonprofit Mind and Melody in South Florida where she led music sessions for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Leanna holds a Master of Music from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music from Purchase College Conservatory. Her primary teachers included Jan Vinci, Tara O’Connor, Gary Schocker, John Thorne, Jeffrey Khaner, and Marisela Sager. When she’s not playing flute, she can be found hanging out with her beloved tortoiseshell cat, Cider.

Mia Sakonju started the violin at the age of 3, and has been studying privately with James Krehbiel. She is currently 16 and a junior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School where she plays in orchestras directed by Carlos Mendez Jr. and Peter Guarino. She has previously won first place in the CNYAMT ...

Mia Sakonju started the violin at the age of 3, and has been studying privately with James Krehbiel. She is currently 16 and a junior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School where she plays in orchestras directed by Carlos Mendez Jr. and Peter Guarino. She has previously won first place in the CNYAMT Instrumental competition and the Hochstein Young Artists competition. She has participated in numerous ensembles, including the Syracuse Young Artists Orchestra, Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Interlochen World Youth Symphony — as well as attending Area All-State and All-State conferences. In her spare time, Mia enjoys cooking and spending time with her cats.

Caleb Ryu is a 16-year-old cellist from Manlius, NY. He has been playing since he was nine. He was influenced by his mother who is a composer, conductor, and virtuous piano player, he was always surrounded by musical influences growing up. Recently, he realized his passion for cello is ...

Caleb Ryu is a 16-year-old cellist from Manlius, NY. He has been playing since he was nine. He was influenced by his mother who is a composer, conductor, and virtuous piano player, he was always surrounded by musical influences growing up. Recently, he realized his passion for cello is irrefutable and he began to professionally build his career as a cellist.

Caleb is involved in many orchestral groups, including the Syracuse Orchestra Young Artist Orchestra, Area All-State, All-County, and chamber of Korean Church of Syracuse choir. He is a sophomore at the Fayetteville-Manlius High School, NY and is associated with its Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Quartet Group, and Pit Orchestra.

At his school, he is being taught by Mr. Carlos Mendez and Mr. Peter Guarino. Also, he is studying under Gregory Wood, the assistant principal cello for the Syracuse Orchestra (Syracuse, NY) and his primary teacher who recognized Caleb’s gift early on. Along with Gregory Wood, Caleb was also recognized by Rosemary Elliot who is Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY) faculty that she accepted him as her student and gave him consistent instructions.

Caleb received the Honorable Mention at the CNYAMT Instrumental Competition 2023 and the Syracuse Youth Orchestra 23-24 Concerto Competition. In January 2024, he was the winner of competitions hosted by At Civic Morning Musicals & Symphoria 52nd Annual Concerto Competition. His musicality further moved on to composition, where he received a songwriting composition award from NYSSMA and presented at the NAfME music educators conference in 2023. He was also chosen to be on air by local news channel 9 “Carrie Lazarus Presents: Extraordinary People and Places of Central New York.”