CHARLES BONTRAGER has been named music director of the Civic Orchestra of Tucson. He will succeed Herschel Kreloff, who steps down at the end of this season after leading the orchestra for 38 years. Bontrager has held music directorships at orchestras in Ohio, Kentucky, Washington, and Missouri, along with opera companies in Missouri and Arkansas. As guest conductor, he has led orchestras and opera companies in many American cities as well as in Brazil, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Canada. In Tucson, he led the orchestra at Flowing Wells High School and was assistant director of orchestral activities at the University of Arizona. Bontrager has appeared with pops artists including the Canadian Brass, Ray Charles, Roy Clark, and Benny Goodman. Bontrager has served for many years on the board of directors and executive committee of the Conductors’ Guild. His academic background includes bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Butler University and a degree in conducting from the University of Cincinnati. The Civic Orchestra of Tucson is an all-volunteer community orchestra that has performed free concerts throughout the greater Tucson area since 1975.
Posted April 20, 2018
