Mr. Macelaru began his work with the Philadelphia Orchestra in the 2010 -11 season and was then chosen to be the Assistant Conductor beginning in September 2011. He will conduct the orchestra in all of their education and family concerts, several non-subscription concerts, as well as assist Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit and several of the ensemble’s guest conductors. In addition to his work in Philadelphia, Mr. Macelaru will be conducting the Baltimore Symphony and assisting Andre Previn with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

During the 2010-11 season, Mr. Macelaru made his debut conducting the Houston Grand Opera in performances of Madama Butterfly. In previous seasons, he has conducted the Pittsburgh and San Diego Symphony Orchestras, Banatul Philharmonic, DaCamera of Houston, Syzygy ensemble, the Oberlin Orchestra and at the Sarasota Music Festival. He collaborated with Patrick Summers on the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick as assistant conductor for the Dallas Opera, and was on the conducting staff of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music for three years.

A participant in both the Tanglewood Music Center and Aspen Music Festival’s conducting programs, he studied under David Zinman, Murry Sidlin, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Robert Spano, Oliver Knussen and Stefan Asbury. His main studies were with renowned teacher Larry Rachleff at Rice University where he received his Master of Music degree in conducting.

Mr. Macelaru started studying violin at the age of six in his native Romania. After winning top prizes in the National Music Olympiad (1994, 1996, 1997), he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. He was the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Miami Symphony Orchestra and made his Carnegie Hall debut with them at the age of nineteen. Mr. Macelaru received a Master of Music in violin performance under the guidance of Sergiu Luca and played in the Houston Symphony’s first violin section for two seasons.

A strong supporter of music education, he has served as a conductor with the Houston Youth Symphony where he created a successful chamber music program. Mr. Macelaru was also the founder and artistic director of the Crisalis Music Project, an organization aimed at giving young musicians chances to perform side-by-side with professional musicians.

Mr. Macelaru currently resides in Philadelphia with his wife Cheryl and their son Beniamin.

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