ERIC R. GRATZ, MUSIC DIRECTOR EUCLID ORCHESTRA

As Music Director of Youth Orchestras of Fresno, Maestro Eric R. Gratz just completed his 20th year as conductor of the Fresno Youth Symphony in Fresno, California. Under his direction, the Youth Symphony traveled on five major European Performance Tours and was recognized as one of the finest youth orchestras in the Western United States.
Gratz, who received his M.A. from the distinguished music school at the University of Northern Colorado, had a teaching career spanning 40 years, with experience in vocal and instrumental music, Grades K-12. Gratz has been quite active as a conductor, directing the Kings County Symphony from 1974-78, has been Guest Conductor of the Merced Symphony, conducted the Friday Philharmonic in over 200 youth concert performances, conducted both the Fresno Prelude Symphony (which he founded in 1982) and the Fresno Youth Symphony, and has conducted numerous youth honor orchestras and bands throughout the San Joaquin Valley. During summers when not touring with the Youth Symphony, he has been instructor and Assistant Conductor under Daniel Lewis at Hidden Valley Institute of the Arts, and has been horn coach and conductor at Fresno Philharmonic Music Camp, University of the Pacific Summer Music Camp and the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts in Saskatchewan, Canada.
As a performer he played in the celebrated Music from Bear Valley Orchestra for 15 years, and has performed on his horn with Johnny Mathis, Henry Mancini, Andy Williams, Ben Vereen, Melissa Manchester, Roger Daltry and others too numerous to mention. A member of the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra for 28 years, he held the position of Principal Horn for 15 years until his retirement in 1997 due to facial injuries suffered in a bad fall. He is a former member of Moment Musical, Fresno Lyric Opera Orchestra and Opera San Joaquin.
Mr. Gratz is proud to be the 1998 winner of the Fresno Arts Council’s prestigious Horizon Award, which is presented annually to “those who make major contributions to the enrichment of life in our community through the arts.” He and his wife, Susan, reside in Shaker Heights with their son, Eric. On Sunday, February 17, 2008 Maestro Gratz will be Guest Conductor of the Heights Chamber Orchestra in Shaker Heights, conducting Dvorak’s New World Symphony and other selections.