Olivier Ochanine: Meet the maestro

MANILA, Philippines - The search for the next music director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) is finally over. After more than two years of screening, interviews and auditions involving over 20 candidates from all over the world, a 30-year-old French-born but long-time American resident, Olivier Ochanine, emerged as the final choice for the coveted position.

The search was probably as long and as rigid as that of the National Artist Award, except there were no lobbying and politics to contend with. A worldwide announcement was posted on the Internet and sent through direct mail. Applications were first screened by a technical group from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), then the list was passed on to the PPO Music Director Search Committee headed by CCP vice president and artistic director Raul Sunico with noted conductors, music experts and key members of the PPO as members. After reading through the candidates’ bio-data and watching videos of the candidates conducting, the committee shortlisted the candidates and invited them to Manila to rehearse and conduct for the PPO. This culminated in a concert wherein they were again rated by the committee as well as the members of the PPO.

The criteria consisted of technical expertise, musical competence, rapport with the musicians, track record and leadership ability. The final choice was submitted to the CCP president who then endorsed it to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

 “He was chosen unanimously by the Committee.” reveals CCP Director for Music Menchi Mantaring, who also sat as one of the members of the Search Committee. “Each conductor was given a specified program to conduct – his choice of an overture, a concerto, a full symphony, and a piece common to all candidates, By the Hillside by Antonino Buenaventura. He gave the best performance with the PPO and drew out the best sound from them. His musicality was evident in all the works he conducted, ” she adds.

“I was thrilled and honored to have been selected for the position,” Ochanine says. “When I first came across the announcement for the search, I was interested but I didn’t actually send an application until a Filipino friend urged me to do so. I had previously researched on and had a keen interest in Southeast Asian orchestras, so I knew about the PPO before I learned about the search on the Internet.”

Like most young people nowadays, Ochanine, who looks more like a member of a rock band than a maestro, is ICT savvy. “I knew most of the people I would be working with here at the CCP and the PPO through Facebook even before I arrived in Manila,” he reveals. “I have 1,300 Facebook friends and around 700 of them are Filipinos.”

His affinity for the Philippines has helped make his move to work in the country for the next three years a breeze. “I have lots of Filipino friends in the United States. Filipinos in my opinion are exceptionally welcoming and extremely hospitable. So I’ve been indirectly exposed to Filipino culture while in the U.S. Now that I’m here, I look forward to seeing much of the country in the coming months,” he adds.

Ochanine has lived most of his adult life in the United States. He was born in Paris but because of his father’s job as a mathematician, his family moved to Germany. In 1991, they settled in Lexington, Kentucky where he started his music education and pursued a college degree in flute performance. He also played the bass with a youth orchestra. He later became interested in conducting and in 2001 enrolled at the University of Southern California where he finished his master’s degree in orchestral conducting. Last year he enrolled at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music for doctorate studies in orchestral conducting. He, of course, had to go on leave from his studies to assume his post with the PPO.

Ochanine’s love for music was an influence of his musically inclined parents. “They both love music. When I was young, I remember being lulled to sleep with Mahler’s symphony in the background,” he reveals. This is perhaps the reason why he stresses the importance of music education and the role the PPO could play in this respect. “Music could inspire people, particularly the young, to change their lives for the better. I think the PPO could be ambassadors of music to the rest of the country so I will work hard to pursue outreach performances in the provinces.”

“My role in the PPO will be that of a unifying force, someone who will not only lead the orchestra but will draw out the best from all of the musicians. We will work together to develop a distinct PPO sound that will make it known all over Asia and the rest of the world,” he says. With his passion for music, vigor and impressive credentials for someone so young in the profession, it is hard to doubt he will achieve his goal in due time.

Ochanine was conferred the Conducting Award by the University of Southern California in 2003. He is a member of the Conductors’ Guild of America and the American Symphony League. He has conducted for the University of Kentucky Symphony, the University of Southern California Orchestra and the Cincinnati Conservatory Philharmonia and Concert Orchestras. Last year, he was invited by the noted conductor Marin Alsop of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to conduct at the prestigious Cabrillo Music Festival and Workshop.

Right now, Ochanine is busy rehearsing for his debut concert, “Music Director’s Gala,” the final concert of the 2009-2010 PPO season, at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo on April 15, 8:00 pm. The CCP gave him carte blanche on the choice of the repertoire and he has chosen an interesting mix of musical pieces that the musicians would love to play and the audience would love to listen to – Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and Festive Overture, Jules Massenet’s Ballet Suite from “Le Cid” and Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings.

“I’ve had lots of fun working with the PPO. I could feel there was instant rapport from my very first rehearsals with them two weeks ago,” he reveals. “Rehearsing the concert repertoire was also delightful for us. The musicians were excited to play the Massenet piece because I was informed that this will be the first time it will be performed in the Philippines. They were also happy to play Shostakovich’s 5th. Every section of the PPO has fun with it. I’m sure the audience would love Barber’s Adagio for Strings because the first few notes hit on the emotion at once and you are immediately affected by the music.”

Manila’s music enthusiasts are surely looking forward to Ochanine’s first concert with the PPO, perhaps curious as to what this young maestro has to offer. Judging from his enthusiasm and deep knowledge of music, I think the audience will not be disappointed.

For tickets to the Music Director’s Gala on April 15, call the PPO office at 832-1125 loc 1608-1610.