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About BCO's Music Director After an extensive, nearly year-long search process to select a Music Director, including interviews and conducting auditions with several candidates, the BCO Board of Directors appointed Cayenna Rosa Ponchione to lead the BCO as Music Director effective May, 2004. Her enthusiasm and commitment to community music experiences for both players and listeners made her a wonderful choice to lead the BCO to its next level of performance and organization. Now in her second season, Cayenna is effectively demonstrating her considerable abilities in leading the BCO. Cayenna Rosa Ponchione was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska and now resides just outside of Ithaca, New York. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and Master's degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Percussion Performance from Ithaca College. As an undergraduate student Ms. Ponchione guest conducted both the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and the Fairbanks Youth Orchestra. She founded and directed a high school percussion ensemble, "Opus 7," giving several concerts a year and performing throughout the state. During her time at Ithaca College she worked extensively with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal and performance, led the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra in concert both at home and throughout Ireland, and directed the Ithaca College Percussion Ensemble for the celebration concert of Karel Husa's 80th birthday. In addition she has conducted premieres of over a dozen new works, led ensembles in some 20 performances of standard repertoire, founded Ithaca's annual student/community "Pastoral in the Park" orchestra and organized and sponsored the 2003 Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra Composition Contest. Her conducting teachers have included Madeline Schatz, Grant Cooper and Jeff Grogan, and additional studies at the Conductor's Institute at the University of South Carolina with Peter Jaffe, Kate Tamarkin, Paul Vermel and Donald Portonoy. Ms. Ponchione has gained national attention as a composer with her work "The Creation," which won the 2003 Percussive Arts Society Percussion Ensemble Composition Contest. She has also composed pieces for solo marimba and vibraphone, high school percussion ensemble, and most recently a duo for viola and marimba written in collaboration with composer/violist Robert Radmer. Her works have been performed throughout the United States and are published by Connecticut Hill Music, which she owns and operates. She has performed as a marimba soloist with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Wind Ensemble and the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra as their 2000 concerto competition winner. She was also a prize winner at the 2000 Music Teacher's National Association International Concerto Competition. In addition to her work with Gordon Stout Ms. Ponchione has received instruction from Nancy Zeltsman, Jack VanGeem, Scott Deal and Doug Wolff. She actively serves the Ithaca arts community by assisting in the organization and production of Ithaca's "Light In Winter" festival and heads the board of "Tabula Rasa," a new arts organization dedicated to facilitating performances of the works of Ithaca area composers.

For Information:

Phone:  (607) 759-9004

E-mail:  conductor@bcorchestra.com

Binghamton Community Orchestra

P.O. Box 1901  ▪  Binghamton, NY 13902