Deanna Tham takes over artistic reigns of the Portland Chamber Orchestra

 

Congratulations to Deanna Tham upon her new appointment with the Portland Chamber Orchestra. She has done terrific work on the podium with the Oregon Symphony, OrpheusPDX, and the Siletz Bay Music Festival. Here's a note from the PCO website:

Powerfully compelling, Deanna Tham delivers unrestrained, visceral performances that infuse the classical cannon with modern vibrancy. With a penchant for embracing the gritty and earthly sides of music in addition to its sublime beauty, Tham’s style reflects a tenacious and free-spirited approach, both on and off the podium. 

Of her Associate Conductor role with the Oregon Symphony during the 2023-24 season, Oregon ArtsWatch wrote: “Deanna Tham made a jaw-dropping, spectacular concert hall debut… It was as if she put her hands in a wall socket and electrified the hall!” In addition to her role with the Oregon Symphony, Tham is the Music Director of the Union Symphony Orchestra. She has recently appeared in Paris' prestigious La Maestra Conducting Competition (2024 semi-finalist), in Royal Albert Hall as part of The Proms, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Seiji Ozawa Hall at the Tanglewood Music Center working with Maestros James Ross, Joseph Young, and Sir Antonio Pappano, as well as renowned artists Isobel Leonard and Joyce DiDonato. Her previous engagements include serving as the Assistant Conductor of the Omaha Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta with Maestro Mei-Ann Chen, and Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra. Tham is a cover conductor for the San Francisco Symphony and has additionally appeared with the Victoria Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Ballet Idaho, Opera Idaho, Orpheus PDX, 45th Parallel Universe, and Present Music Milwaukee. Her work with the National Music Festival featured on National Public Radio as well as American Public Media. Tham holds a Professional Studies Certificate from the Cleveland Institute of Music in Orchestral Conducting studying with Maestro Carl Topilow; a Master of Music degree in conducting from Northwestern University studying with Dr. Mallory Thompson; and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in horn performance from Carnegie Mellon University.