Willem van der Vis – Conductor Emeritus
Willem van der Vis has been Music Director of the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra for 29 years. During this time he greatly developed the orchestra’s skills and expanded its repertoire and in doing so has enhanced the Orchestra’s reputation within the community.
New Zealand born Willem gained a BSc (Hons) in physics before he decided to focus on his real passion, which was music. Soon he was playing principal cello with the Scolar Musica (New Zealand Symphony Training Orchestra) and the Dunedin Sinfonia.
In 1979 he moved to Australia, where he became a member of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for 7 years. In addition he has played with Orchestra Victoria and the New Zealand, Tasmanian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras. As an orchestral cellist, he was always fascinated by how a conductor interacted with and communicated music to an orchestra and this led him to complete his BMus (conducting) at the WAAPA and the VCA (Robert Rosen). Conducting studies followed in Moscow, England and the Czech Republic. He enjoyed further studies with Professor John Hopkins in Melbourne.
Willem has conducted the Stonnington, Heidelberg, New Monash, Ballarat and Derwent (Hobart) Symphony Orchestras as well as the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has conducted the Murray Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra and Choral Society (Albury, NSW), Two Murray River “Three Choirs” Festivals, Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra, Margaret Sutherland Strings as well as many stage shows.
Every year Willem conducts at orchestral workshops and music camps around Australia. Willem is also in demand as an adjudicator and holds workshops in orchestral conducting.
Assistant Conductor
Ian McDonald
Ian completed a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the University of Melbourne before being awarded a Choral Scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge University. While at Cambridge, he sang with the King’s College Choir, conducted the College Orchestra and completed his Master’s degree.
On his return to Australia he studied singing with Dame Joan Hammond. Ian has conducted a wide range of ensembles and performances, including leading the Adelaide Symphony Brass and Percussion at the opening of the new Art Gallery of South Australia.
He has an extensive background in musical direction, working over many years with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and State Theatre Company of South Australia. Notable productions as Musical Director include The Threepenny Opera (Sydney), Cabaret, Shimada (Broadway, New York), High Society, Man of La Mancha, Urinetown, Spellingbee, Twelfth Night, As you like It and Songs for Nobodies.
As a composer and arranger, Ian has created numerous scores for theatre, film, and chamber
ensembles. Acclaimed works include the dance score for Philippe Genty’s Stowaways, the
songs and score for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the score for North by North
West which toured UK, Canada and NZ. He also served as Composer in Residence for the
State Theatre South Australia and the Melbourne Theatre Company. He currently plays violin with the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra, where he also serves as Assistant Conductor.
Guest Conductor
David Medine
David Medine is a violinist, violist, and conductor originally from Tucson, Arizona. He holds a Bachelor’s in viola performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master’s in the same from the University of California, San Diego.
While earning a PhD in computer music at UCSD, David served for many years as the music directory and conductor of the University’s Chamber Orchestra. During that time he also premiered many works of his UCSD contemporaries, both as an instrumentalist and conductor. Earlier in his professional career, David performed as a violinist and violist in dozens of professional and semi-professional orchestras throughout the United States and Europe.
After moving to Australia in 2020, he was for several years the Leader of the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra and served as Assistant Conductor. Apart from his work with MaSO, David is a violinist in the Dandenong Ranges-based Tarella String Quartet.
Previous conductors
Gyula Cseszkó
Maroondah Symphony Orchestra was delighted to appoint Gyula Cseszkó as Music Director in 2023. Gyula is an experienced conductor, Artistic Director, Music Educator and Adjudicator and has had a career hallmarked with excellence for over twenty years, having conducted over forty orchestras and eight choirs.
Gyula’s leadership empowered the orchestra to explore a rich variety of musical styles, enriching their journey with diverse highlights. From British compositions to Hungarian classics, the enchantment of an Incurable Romantics concert to the thrilling excitement of a European Odyssey performance, each concert cultivated new inspiration and depth to the collect experience.
Alexander Vengerovski
Maroondah Symphony Orchestra welcomed guest conductor Alexander in 2022 and flourished under his guidance, experience and passion.
Alexander began his musical training in violin and percussion at the Kharkov Special Music School in Ukraine going on to train at the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow. Until his move to Australia in 1999 he was the principal percussionist of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra.
He had a Master of Music (conducting) from the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music under Benjamin Northey. His orchestral involvement in Australia included engagements with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Pops Orchestra, Maroondah Symphony Orchestra and Casey Philharmonic Orchestra.