John Wesley Strickler

Music Director & Conductor
 

          This season, Dr. Strickler begins his third decade as Music Director of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra.  During his tenure, the TSO has evolved from an all-volunteer community orchestra to a professional regional ensemble with an active educational program, as well as playing concerts throughout northeast Kansas.  Additionally, annual School Day concerts played to more 4,000 students, have been implemented. 

          Singers and instrumentalists alike praise Strickler’s work as an accompanist.  Itzhak Perlman and Frederica von Stade found him to be a very sensitive and most accommodating conductor.  Over the years, Strickler has enjoyed performing with such distinguished artists as:  Daniel Adni, Jeffrey Biegel, Daniel Beliavsky, Larisa Elisha, Steven Elisha, Ina Faliks, Claudio Jaffe, Julius Kim, Sharan Leventhal, Brian Lewis, Marina Lomazov, Richetta Manager, Horia Mihail, Jon Nakamatsu, Michael Pearson, Artur Pizarro, Sandra Rivers, Jung Pill Ryu, Stephen Salters, Wayne Shepperd, David Shifrin, Wendy Warner, Andre Watts, Ivan Zenaty, the Canadian Brass, the Elaris Duo, the Gramercy Trio, and Five By Design. 

Strickler has held appointments with various orchestras and has worked with many others as guest conductor.  During one of his guest conducting appearances, Strickler stood on Dvorak’s podium for a performance of the “New World Symphony” with the North Czech Philharmonic in Dvorak Hall in Prague’s Rudolfinum.  He also led the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic in a program of Haydn and Mozart in Vienna’s Kaisersaal, and he spent three weeks in Romania conducting the Philharmonic Orchestras in the cities of Ploieste, Bacau, and Brasov. 

          In 1999, Strickler guest conducted the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra in Biloxi, MS, resulting in his appointment as Music Director and Conductor, a position he holds concurrently with that in Topeka.  Since his appointment, the GCSO has experienced considerable artistic growth and renewed interest.  The orchestra performed with Luciano Pavarotti and was invited to tour with Andre Bocelli; and outdoor concerts on Memorial Day weekend consistently draw an estimated 10,000 attendees.

          A native of New Glarus, Wisconsin, Strickler received his Bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin.  As an undergraduate, he was an organist and percussionist, having played in the Madison Symphony Orchestra.  While earning his Master’s in conducting and PhD in theory from the University of Southern California, he was affiliated with the San Gabriel Valley Jr. Symphony, the Coterie Symphonique, the USC Symphony and Community Orchestras, and the Long Beach Community Orchestra.

          Among his conducting mentors are such highly esteemed musicians and teachers as Daniel Lewis, H. Robert Reynolds, Jon Robertson, Herbert Blomstedt, Jorge Mester, and Joseph Gifford. 

          In 1998, Dr. Strickler was a recipient of the Kansas Governor’s Arts Award in recognition of his contribution to the cultural life of Topeka and northeast Kansas.  Further, the opening concert of the Topeka Symphony’s 60^th anniversary season, featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, was televised by KTWU TV and received a Telly Award in 2007.  

          Over the years, orchestra members and audience alike have come to realize that Strickler’s artistic talents go beyond the podium should you experience one of his gourmet meals or step into his lush garden. Aside from orchestral and chamber music, he enjoys many types of music including Celtic, folk, blue grass, jazz, rock, country and opera. 

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