The West Australian Symphonic Wind Ensemble is very pleased to welcome Dr. Alan Lourens as Guest Conductor for the band’s current season.
Dr. Lourens is a freelance conductor, arranger and composer currently based in Perth, Western Australia. Previously, Dr. Lourens has held university and professorial positions in Singapore, Dubai and Australia at leading arts institutions. Dr. Lourens has conducted orchestras and bands throughout Asia, Australia and the US, and performed on Euphonium across four continents. He has been heard nationally on Australian radio, and is in demand as a conductor and teacher of conducting through the region. He is also active in the Brass Band movement in Australia, both as a conductor and soloist. In 2008, Dr. Lourens was made a Fellow of the prestigious UK based Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in recognition of his contribution to the development of the arts internationally.
On Euphonium, he regularly appears as an international soloist, and has recorded and toured with ensembles including the Philharmonia à Vent, the Australian Wind Orchestra and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, under such conductors as Frederick Fennell, Harry Begian, Vernon Handley, Ray E. Cramer and Simone Young. He has lectured adjudicated and conducted at universities and events throughout the US, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
Dr. Lourens holds a Doctorate in Conducting and Masters degree in Euphonium Performance from Indiana University, where he studied conducting with Ray E. Cramer and Euphonium with Daniel Perantoni, M. Dee Stewart and Harvey G. Phillips. He received a coveted Performers Certificate for the quality of his Masters recital. His undergraduate degree is in Music Education from the Western Australian College of Advanced Education.
Prof. Lourens has many articles and music publications to his credit, including analysis contributions to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series of books. Cimarron Publishing (USA) has released his work for both band and orchestra.
WASWE would like to thank Conductors Ross Brennan and Dale Pointon for their hard work and dedication which has contributed greatly to the success of the band’s previous seasons. Both will be taking a sabbatical from their conductors roles at WASWE and we look forward to having them back in the not too distant future.
[Cancelled - see post of 4 November]