Collection: Suben, Joel Eric

1946 - 2023

Joel Eric Suben (1946-2023) was active as orchestral conductor, chiefly in Europe. He appeared on 70+ commercial CD recordings. Frequently invited by Polish Radio to make archival recordings of Polish-born composers' works, incl. Karol Rathaus and Jerzy Fitelberg. He held many posts through his career, including Music Dir., Peninsula Symph (VA) 1981-87; Music Dir. Center Chamb. Orch. (NJ), 1986-88; Music Advisor, Wellesley Philharmonic (MA), 1993-97; and Finalist, 1976 Hans Haring Cond. Competition of Austrian Radio. As composer, he won first prize in 1967 nationwide composition contest of Amer. Guild of Organists, first prize in 1986 Music Teachers Nat. Assoc. composers' competition, first prize in 1986 WSCMS nationwide composers' contest (NYU), first prize in 1986 Bucks County (PA) Symphony composition contest. His degrees included Eastman School of Music (B.Mus cum laude, composition with S. Adler), Brandeis Univ. (M.F.A., Ph.D., comp. with S. Shifrin, A. Berger, M. Boykan), Mozarteum Salzburg (conducting with Otmar Suitner), Vienna Conservatory (cond. with Witold Rowicki), Curtis Institute (cond. masterclass with S. Celibidache), and private conducting study with Jacques-Louis Monod (NYC) 1973-1977. He was a Fulbright Fellow in Poland 1977-78, with composition studies with H.M. Gorecki.