Faculty Biography

Nancy Strelau, Lecturer


Contact:
(585) 389-2691
(585) 388-8629(H)
nstrela1@naz.edu


Departmental Responsibilities:
Orchestra Conductor
Instrumental Activities Coordinator


Education:
University of Miami, MM
Syracuse University, BM


Biography:

Before coming to Rochester in 1986, Nancy Pettersen Strelau was a violinist with the Florida Philharmonic and Assistant Conductor of the Miami Youth Orchestra. In addition to conducting the Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra Mrs. Strelau is currently Music Director and Conductor of the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hochstein Virtuosi Scholarship Chamber Orchestra, the Greater Rochester Women's Philharmonic and the New Horizons Orchestra. She was Director of Orchestras and String Coordinator for the Penfield Central School District (NY) from 1986 to 2000 and Conductor of the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra from 1994 to 2005. She is a frequent guest conductor of area high school orchestra festivals and All-State Orchestras, as well as guest conductor at local and national music conferences. Mrs. Strelau teaches music composition and conducting at the Hochstein School of Music and Dance.

Mrs. Strelau was the 1991 recipient of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Musicians Award for Outstanding Music Educator in String Education and the 2001 recipient of the Hochstein Music School Faculty Service Award.

Mrs. Strelau has received music degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Miami (Florida) and has taught in public, private and laboratory schools in Idaho, Utah, North Dakota and Florida.

Always interested in new music, Mrs. Strelau conducted the Juilliard School of Music Graduate Orchestra in the 1987 world premiere of 'Our Boys' by Cleophus Adderly, the first Bahamian Opera written. She has several orchestral and choral pieces published with Warner Brothers and Southern Music Company. Among noted works is a double bass concerto commissioned by RPO bassist Deborah Dunham. Her Fanfare entitled '325-7760' (melody based on the phone number and busy signal(!)for the ticket office) was featured at the opening ceremonies of the 1995 Ryder Cup International Golf Tournament by the Eastman Wind Ensemble under the baton of Donald Hunsberger. 'Four Miniatures,' a string orchestral suite by Mrs. Strelau is among her more popular works and has been performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been the recipient of several 'Meet the Composer' grants. Mrs. Strelau made her third appearance at Carnegie Hall in 2002 conducting the premiere of her piece for full symphonic orchestra L'enfant du Soldat.

Mrs. Strelau lives in Penfield, New York with husband, luthier and double bassist Paul and their twelve year old daughter, Hadley.