Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Frederick Fennell Wind Studies Program was created in 2003 by a generous donation from John and Sandra Segerstrom Daniels in honor of legendary wind conductor Frederick Fennell. Under the direction of Teren Shaffer, the Program offers a comprehensive wind studies education that allows students to enroll in master classes, work with an inspiring caliber of guest artists, and attend festivals and field trips. Students have collaborated with composer Frank Ticheli, conductor H. Robert Reynolds, Boston Symphony Principal Trombonist Toby Oft, Les Benedict of Hollywood Studios, saxophonist Harvey Pittel, and Grammy-award winning artists Michael Daugherty and Bill Cunliffe. The Program also provides students with the opportunity to perform in various ensembles, including the Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, as well as several individual ensembles for flutes, double reeds, clarinets, brass, saxophones and percussion. The Frederick Fennell Wind Studies Program brings a focused, high-level, quality education to instrumental music students.
The Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble, conducted by Teren Shaffer, has been recognized for high achievement throughout the country. In addition to earning unanimous superior ratings in festivals, the ensemble has been recognized for three consecutive years by The American Prize. This year, the ensemble won first prize in The American Prize for Band Performance. In February 2013, the ensemble was featured in a showcase performance at the California All-State Music Education Conference – and in March 2014, traveled to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis as one of 16 schools selected from throughout the United States.
The Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference is the largest music conference of its kind, and hosts band directors and outstanding ensembles from around the world in Chicago every December. It serves as a meeting place for 17,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 30 countries, representing a wide array of professional music organizations.
An invitation to perform at the Midwest Clinic is the highest achievement to which any band or orchestra can aspire, at the middle school, high school, college and professional level. Ensembles are chosen through a notoriously competitive process involving audio recordings, video recordings and recommendations from distinguished conductors. Worldwide, only 15 bands are chosen to perform at the Midwest Clinic – encompassing all skill levels. In the Clinic’s distinguished 68-year history, OCSA’s Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble is the first group from Southern California to be invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic. The Wind Ensemble will travel to Chicago for this historic performance in December 2014.
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FREDERICK FENNELL WIND ENSEMBLE
Conductor's Bio
First prize winner of The 2014 American Prize in Conducting, Teren Shaffer, has been praised as an “Outstanding Arts Educator” by the Orange County Department of Education. Mr. Shaffer serves as director of the Classical Instrumental Music Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), where he is also the music director and conductor of the Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble. Mr. Shaffer serves as associate conductor and general manager of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra (OCYSO), cover conductor for Sinfonia Gulf Coast in Florida, and is the co-founder and director of artistic management for First & Grand Entertainment, LLC. A sought after adjudicator and clinician throughout Southern California, Mr. Shaffer has served on the Spotlight Awards selection panel at The Music Center in Los Angeles.
While completing a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Mr. Shaffer also served as cover conductor for the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. He conducted an array of ensembles including CCM’s Philharmonia, Concert Orchestra, Ballet Orchestra and Café MoMus (CCM’s contemporary music ensemble). Furthermore, he led an acclaimed production of Janacek’s opera The Cunning Little Vixen with CCM’s Opera d’Arte, which was awarded third place in its division by the National Opera Association.
In addition to completing a master of music degree in orchestral conducting at CCM, Mr. Shaffer holds bachelor of music degrees in instrumental conducting, bassoon performance and music education from Chapman University’s Conservatory of Music. At Chapman, he developed a keen interest in conducting and pursued his studies with Daniel Alfred Wachs. During this time, he prepared members of the Pacific Symphony for a concert with the Chapman Chamber Orchestra as part of the American Composers Festival.
Mr. Shaffer has conducted OCYSO at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California, in numerous Concerts for Fifth Graders, presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. In addition, Mr. Shaffer served as a fellow with the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra. He has participated in numerous international summer music festivals and workshops, including CCM Spoleto in Italy, the Conductor’s Institute at Bard College Conservatory of Music, and the Conductor’s Retreat at Medomak.
Since taking over the helm of OCSA’s Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble in 2011, Mr. Shaffer has led the ensemble to great success and recognition. In addition to earning unanimous superior ratings in festivals, the ensemble has been recognized for three consecutive years by The American Prize. In 2014, the ensemble was selected as the first prize winner for The American Prize in Band Performance. The 2011-2012 season also included a unique grant-underwritten performance of music by Grammy Award winning composer, Michael Daugherty, who visited OCSA for a weeklong residency. In February 2013, the ensemble was featured in a showcase performance at the California All-State Music Education Conference. During the 2013-2014 season, the Wind Ensemble collaborated with Grammy Award winning pianist, Bill Cunliffe, and traveled to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival as one of 16 schools selected from throughout the United States. The crowning achievement for any band program around the world is an invitation to perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. This notoriously competitive festival has long been a dream for OCSA’s Wind Studies Program, and the Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the 2014 Midwest Clinic – the first band from Southern California in the Midwest Clinic’s distinguished 68-year history.
The 2014-15 season will include engagements with the Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble, Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast with Grammy-nominated composer and artist Chris Brubeck, and OCSA’s Summer Wind Studies Festival Ensemble for which Mr. Shaffer is the Founder and Artistic Director.
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