Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra violinist Ubaldo Valli has won the 2023 American Prize – Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programming. The award honors the memory of Lithuanian conductor Vytautas Marijosius, music director of the Lithuanian State Opera and Director of Orchestral Activities at the Hartt School of Music of the University of Hartford. The Prize recognizes and rewards the best achievement in the unique field of orchestral programming, where the selection of repertoire by knowledgeable, creative and courageous music directors builds orchestras and audiences, educates young people and adults, and enriches the community.  

In addition to playing with the Binghamton Philharmonic, Ubaldo is director of the Pierstown Concert Series in Cooperstown.  He was Music Director/Conductor of the SUNY Cortland College-Community Orchestra, co-founded and conducted the Northeast String Orchestra in Albany and the Saratoga Springs Youth Symphony, served as Music Director and Conductor of the Hamilton College Orchestra, the Auburn Chamber Orchestra, the Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra and the Empire State Youth Orchestra String Ensemble and Advanced Chamber Ensemble.  As a guest conductor, Valli has performed at festivals, for Music’s Recreation at Ithaca College, and for an interfaith service with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. He studied conducting with Jeffrey Meyer, Pamela Gearhart and Karel Husa.  He has also studied and performed theater improvisation internationally and in 2018 and 2021 presented papers linking orchestral conducting and performance with improv and theatrical mask techniques at the Oxford Conducting Institute Conducting Studies Conference, University of Oxford. 

Many congratulations, Ubaldo!