Paris Impressions

Grammy nominated conductor ALASTAIR WILLIS is in his eighth season as Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and in his fourth season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The Symphonia Boca Raton. In past seasons, Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others. His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.

Last season Willis was re-engaged by the Qatar Philharmonic, Salute to Vienna, and made his debut with Vienna’s Imperial Philharmonic. This season he returns to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Qatar Philharmonic, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Seattle’s Music of Remembrance, Illinois Symphony and Salute to Vienna.

Previous positions include Music Director of the Illinois Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra’s Coffee Concert series, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from England’s Bristol University, an Education degree from Kingston University, and a Masters of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Willis currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.

alastairwillis.com

Robert R. Mangialardi is currently an Emeritus Assistant Professor of Voice and former Director of the Opera Theatre program at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois. Prior to beginning his career at Illinois Wesleyan University, Mr. Mangialardi directed and taught voice for 14 years at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Mr. Mangialardi has performed throughout the Midwest with companies such as the Illinois Shakespeare Festival at Illinois State University, the Illinois Opera Theater at the University of Illinois, Sunshine Dinner Playhouse, Champaign, Illinois, Illinois Voices Theatre, Bloomington-Normal, and the Barn Theatre. Robert has also done many television commercials for companies such as Amtrak and Black’s Hardware Company. He last performed with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO), at their 2021 gala event, and in 2015, with Music Director Alastair Willis he performed H.K Gruber’s masterpiece, “Frankenstein”. 

Mr. Mangialardi is the founder and executive director of Prairie Fire Theatre, a professional light opera and music theater company based in Bloomington-Normal. Each year, Prairie Fire Theatre produces one touring children’s opera, and several opera and musical theater productions. The 2024 production of “Treble Trouble” toured 48 schools and performed for over 9,000 elementary students and teachers. Many of Prairie Fire Theatre’s productions are performed on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Mangialardi received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance from Illinois State University and has conducted doctoral work at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.