Dallas Chamber Orchestra

The Dallas Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1977 by violinist Ronald Neal. From the very beginning the DCO was recognized as a remarkably tight-knit ensemble, playing with enormous spirit and projection (Dallas Morning News). The DCO performs in the time-honored tradition for smaller orchestras, without conductor, and is consistently praised for its robust, cohesive performances. Members of the DCO are Internationally recognized musicians, including professors and artists in residence from the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU and the University of North Texas. Instruments used by DCO musicians include some of the greatest stringed instruments ever crafted including works by Stradivari, Amati, Tononi, and Montagnana. As a result the orchestra is consistently praised as an ensemble of notable refinement and artistry(High Fidelity Musical America) and as an orchestra which produces a sound equal in richness and depth to what one expects from a string section of a great orchestra (Ft. Worth Star Telegram).

The ensemble was featured as the resident Chamber Orchestra in the XIX International Festival de Musica de Camara in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Other featured resident ensembles included the Tokyo and Ying String Quartets. The Dallas Chamber Orchestra is frequently heard on National Public Radio Performance Today and has numerous recordings to its credit. The repertoire performed by the DCO encompasses a varied style from the early baroque to music by living composers.

Supporting education the DCO has participated in the past with the Dallas Independent School District Adopt a School Program. Ronald Neal and principal players of the orchestra have acted as mentors for students, giving master classes and coachings to students in the orchestras of Greiner Middle School, G. B. Dealey Montessori, Skyline and Booker T. Washington School of the Performing Arts.

In past years the DCO has benefited from corporate support by numerous companies including JC Penney Life Insurance, Mobil, Exxon, Ebby Halliday, Societe Generale, Austin Industries, the Law firms of Vincent and Elkins, Haynes and Boone, Hughes and Luce, Texas Instruments and the Crow Family Trust. It has received grants from TACA, the 500 Inc., Texas Commission on the Arts, Western State Arts Alliance and the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, as well as support from the University of Texas at Dallas, School of Arts and Humanities.

Violinist Ronald Neal has served as Director-Concertmaster of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra for three decades. In 1977 he created the DCO and under his direction the DCO has gained recognition as a "tightly knit, well disciplined ensemble with enormous spirit and enthusiasm" (Dallas Morning News). The Dallas Observer described the Dallas Chamber Orchestra as “A noteworthy ensemble of virtuosi whose flawless performances are a rare meeting of the minds, not only among players, but among the audience.” The Fort Worth Star Telegram described the DCO as “an ensemble that produces a sound equal in richness and depth to what one expects from the string section of a great orchestra.” Under his leadership the DCO has recorded for Crystal Records and Digital Masters and is frequently heard throughout the US on National Public Radio "Performance Today". His performance (and live recording) of Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra was praised as a "miracle of light and sensitivity" by High Fidelity "Musical America". In 1997 the DCO was the first Chamber Orchestra invited to perform at the XIX Festival Internacional de Musica de Camara in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

The Austin Chamber Orchestra was formed by Mr. Neal in the spring of 2000 and Neal served as artistic director for two seasons. The Austin America Statesman hailed the debut concert of the ACO and stated “There was none of the half-heartedness evident at many orchestral concerts, because the music making was in their collective hands. The tone was more gorgeous and rich than one could have thought would have come from only a dozen or so players. This sort of music making not only fills a void, hearing them once creates a need to hear them again.”

In 1996 the Elan International Music Festival program was developed by Ronald Neal. The program was designed by Mr. Neal as a result of two and a half decades experience as artistic director of music festivals, collaborating with international concert artists and faculty from the leading musical institutions including faculty of the Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute, Oberlin School, University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music, Yale School of Music, Korean National School of the Arts, Toho School (Japan) and the Beijing Central Conservatory. The mission of Elan International is to develop environments conducive to the study and exchange of musical ideas and techniques for musicians of international stature from diverse regions throughout the world. Emerging young artists are joined and supported by Master Artist Teachers in these cultural exchanges. Elan International Music Festivals have been held in Taos and Angel Fire, New Mexico, in Stowe and Stratton, Vermont, as well as the University of Texas at Dallas.

The Elan ideal was internationally expanded in 2003 as Ronald Neal developed and served as artistic director of the first Northern China International Chamber Music Festival held in Shenyang, China. In the same year he served as director of Chamber Music for the Beijing International Music School and Festival.

Ronald Neal is the Founder and for fourteen seasons served as Artistic Director of the Killington Music Festival, an international music festival held in the summer months in Killington, Vermont. Mr. Neal served as a director of the Manchester Music Festival for eight years prior to his tenure at the Killington Festival. Mr. Neal was the Founder and Music Director of the Stowe International Music School and Festival in Stowe, Vermont from 1997 - 2002.

Concert activities have taken Mr. Neal throughout North, Central and South America, Iceland, Europe, China and Japan. Berlin’s Der Taagespiegel called Mr. Neal “A leading violinist”, The New York Times said “The Shostakovich was graced by the expressive beauty of Ronald Neal’s violin playing” and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle recognized him as “a violinist of great sensitivity and extraordinary technical capabilities. His fantastic leaps and double stops were a dazzling display.”

Mr. Neal has served as director-concertmaster of the following orchestras: Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Austin Chamber Orchestra, New England Chamber Orchestra, Shenyang Chamber Orchestra (China) and Beijing International Music School and Festival Orchestra. Neal has performed as a full time or substitute member in the following orchestras: American Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, New York String Orchestra, Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, Piedmont Chamber Orchestra and Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

An interest in the music of living composers led Neal to the co-founding of the contemporary music group "Voices of Change". During his ten year tenure Voices of Change premiered over 200 new works, performed throughout the US and Europe, and recorded extensively.

Ronald Neal has performed as leader in the Quartet in Residence of the State University of New York system, Dallas Arts String Quartet, Dallas Chamber Orchestra Quartet, and in numerous performances as leader of chamber groups in performances and music festivals throughout the US and abroad.

Mr. Neal is currently director of Orchestra at the University of Texas at Dallas, School of Arts and Humanities. In addition, he is designing and developing "The Chamber Music Institute" at UT Dallas, an innovative program designed for in-depth study and performance of the great literature written for chamber ensembles. Prior to his appointment at UT Dallas Neal had served on the faculties of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, the State University of New York at Genesseo as well as holding teaching fellowships at the Eastman and Juilliard Schools. Many of his former students are members of chamber music groups and orchestras throughout the US, Europe and the Far East. Others hold positions in Universities and Conservatories of music as well Directors of Suzuki Programs. Students from his class have been prizewinners of numerous Regional and National competitions.

Mr. Neal received the Bachelor of Music degree and the Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and the Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. At both institutions he received a teaching fellowship and was an instructor of violin. His principal teachers were Ivan Galamian, Sally Thomas and Carroll Glenn. His mentors for chamber music were Felix Galimir, John Celentano and Joseph Gingold.

Ronald Neal is married to Maria Alessandra Freile Brito. They have two children, George and Alexander.

Susan Dubois, Viola

A native of San Diego, California, violist Susan Dubois was chosen as a winner of Artists International's 23rd Annual Auditions and was presented in her solo New York Recital Debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall in April of 1996. She was also selected as the winner of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Women's Music Fraternity 1995 Verna Ross Omdorff Career Performance Grant. Ms. Dubois was a recitalist and award winner in the 1991 Lionel Terlis International Viola competition in the United Kingdom, and has also competed in the 1991 finals of the Primrose and Washington International Competitions. In 1990 she was selected as the Scholarship winner in the San Diego Musical Merit Foundation Instrumental/Vocal Competition and was also the scholarship winner and soloist with the La Jolla Civic-University Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Music Academy of the West. Ms. Dubois was twice winner of the American String Teachers Association State Solo Competition in 1985 and1988, and was an award winner in the 1990 ASTA National Competition .

A teaching assistant and student of Karen Tuttle, and a recipient of the Cartwright and Irving Ruckens Scholarships at The Juilliard School, Ms. Dubois earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and was awarded the William Schuman Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music. She made her New York concert debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall with Maestro Otto Werner Mueller and the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Dubois holds a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, and Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California.

he is currently a member of the artist faculty at the University of North Texas and principal violist of the Dallas Opera Orchestra. Ms. Dubois is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society and is a life member of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Eugene Osadchy, Cello

Currently Associate Professor of Cello at the University of North Texas, Eugene Osadchy is a Principal cellist with Plano Symphony, Dallas Chamber Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra Canada. He is also Artistic Director of the Vetta Chamber Music Series in Vancouver, Canada and Artistic Advisor of The Blue Candlelight Series in Dallas.

Hailed as having “…the most refined and balanced string playing…” by the New York Times and called “a paragon of Russian élan” by the Vancouver Sun, “a soloist with a clearly defined musical personality” by Newsday and noted for his “extraordinary playing” by the Dallas Morning News.

Eugene Osadchy regularly performs and gives Master Classes throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, Orient and South Africa. For the past six years Mr.Osadchy has presented his annual North Texas Summer Cello Clinic.

He has performed in Japan and Taiwan, participated in numerous chamber music series and festivals around the world including Amsterdam and Groningen International Festivals in Holland, Stellenbosch International Music Festival in South Africa, Music at Blair Athol in Scotland, the Castel Franko di Veneto Festival in Italy, the Mozart Festival in Woodstock, Illinois, as well as Vancouver, Banff, Seattle, Sitka, Durango, the Mozart Festival in Long Island, NY, Maui Music Festivals. He has performed at Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall, and the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Canada.

In addition, Mr. Osadchy makes frequent appearances at the Bargemusic Series in New York, the Autumn Classic series in Anchorage, Chamber Music International in Dallas, Strings in the Mountains at Steamboat Springs, Colorado and International Niagara Music Festival, Canada.

Born in Kiev to a family of professional musicians, Mr.Osadchy started his musical education at the age of five on the piano and a year later on the cello. After graduating from The Special Music School for Talented and Gifted Children, Eugene continued his education at the Kiev State Conservatory of Music and graduated with honors. Mr. Osadchy became a Laureate of Republic of Ukraine Cello Competition. Other music credits include composition of two film scores and releases of several CD’s on Melodia label featuring Mr. Osadchy’s compositions and arrangements. His recordings with CBC Radio Orchestra received numerous Juno awards (Canadian equivalent of Grammies).

Jeff Bradetich, Double Bass

Proclaimed by the New York Times as "the master of his instrument," Jeff Bradetich is regarded as one of the leading performers and teachers of the double bass in the US today.

Since his New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall in 1982 he has performed more than 400 concerts on three continents including his London debut in Wigmore Hall in 1986. He has won many major solo competitions, recorded six solo albums of music for double bass and piano, recorded the first Bach cello suite on DVD and has been featured on radio and television throughout North and South America and Europe including CBS, CNN, BBC and NPR.

Mr. Bradetich began his study of the bass in the school orchestra program in Eugene, OR studying with Royce Lewis and Dr. Robert Hladky before studying at Northwestern University with Warren Benfield where he earned both Bachelor and Masters degrees.

In addition to being an active lecturer and clinician, Mr. Bradetich has transcribed more than 100 solo works and has produced an instructional video for the double bass. He served as Executive Director of the International Society of Bassists from 1982-1990 and editor of its magazine for 6 years.

Jeff Bradetich has taught on the faculties of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University prior to his 1994 appointment as director of the largest double bass program in the world at the University of North Texas.

Mr. Bradetich is co-founder of Music For All To Hear, the first company to record music especially arranged and acoustically prepared for the hard of hearing. His pioneering work in this field has helped to bring music into the lives of thousands of individuals with hearing losses.