As the Music Director of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Harmony Program Youth Orchestra North, and assistant conductor of the Greenwich Village Orchestra in New York, New York, Mr. Mahl is a musician who believes in the transformative powers of music above all else. His hope is to provide meaningful, enriching and educational musical experiences to as many people as possible. Under the belief that the study of music is essentially an exploration of the human condition, and that classical music is infinitely beneficial for every human, he strives to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of music played with the highest possible level of artistry.

Past positions include assistant conductor to the contemporary music ensemble Orchestre 21 (Montréal) and Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra (NYC), conductor of the Fredonia Symphonia, cover conductor for the Orchard Park Symphony (Buffalo, NY), and assistant to all orchestral and operatic activities at SUNY Fredonia. He has had guest conducting experiences with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Greenwich Village Orchestra, and Urban Playground, and the university orchestras of the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati (CCM), Université de Montréal, and SUNY Fredonia.

Mr. Mahl’s dedication to contemporary music is evident in his many collaborations and commissions with professional and student composers including the world premieres of fully staged operas, experimental ballet, and countless small and large ensemble pieces of all genres. As part of his position with Orchestre 21, Mr. Mahl was selected to act as assistant for the world premiere of Debussy’s previously unfinished, now completed, opera, Le Diable dans le Beffroi. He was also selected from over 100 applicants to participate in the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Conducting Workshop, where he worked closely with Marin Alsop and James Ross.

Mr. Mahl received his Bachelors of Music in Education from Ithaca College and continued his studies both at Université de Montréal and SUNY Fredonia, where he received his master’s degree. He has studied with some of the foremost conducting pedagogues in the United States including Marin Alsop, James Ross, Harold Farberman, Neil Varon, Marc Gibson, Larry Rachleff, Don Schleicher, Jean-Francois Rivest, Paolo Bellomia, and Joseph Gifford. He has participated in workshops and competitions in the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic at the Eastman School, CCM, and Bard College. Mr. Mahl’s primary instrument is the trumpet, although he is well-schooled in all the orchestral instruments. He continues to perform in orchestral, jazz, and chamber music settings. Mr. Mahl is an outdoor enthusiast, and accomplished cook, and an avid runner.