Evan Meccarello

Evan Meccarello is committed to new explorations in classical music and engaging with communities across the Northeast. He is Artistic Director of Cordancia Chamber Orchestra (Rochester, NY), Music Director of Binghamton Community Orchestra (Binghamton, NY), Founder and Director of the Hochstein Alumni Orchestra (Rochester, NY), and served as Conductor of the Thames Valley Youth Symphony (New London, CT) for five seasons. He has both led ensembles and taught conducting courses at Nazareth University and Eastman School of Music’s Summer Classical Studies.

In 2023 Meccarello was Artist in Residence at Breadcrumbs Productions in Syracuse, NY, where he conceived and built the team that produced String Quartet Theatre, an experience bridging the worlds of professional chamber music and immersive theatre, with four members of a quartet as speaking and moving actors. The production will tour New York State in September 2024, culminating in performances at Rochester Fringe Festival. The ’23-‘24 season also brought an appearance as guest conductor with the Penfield Symphony Orchestra.

A trusted clinician and educator, Meccarello has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician at schools in four states, including NYSSMA Area All-State and All-County orchestras.  Previous summer seasons included teaching for Nazareth’s Orchestral Conducting and String Performance program and guest conducting at the Keuka Lake Music Festival.  

Along with the Binghamton Community Orchestra, Meccarello was named a National Finalist for The American Prize in virtual performance for the innovative program Music Outside the Box. This all-online festival for high school musicians featured live virtual ensemble rehearsals and performances of contemporary music during the pandemic lockdown. The project received international attention, leading to an invitation to present on the experience in a summer program of Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra.

Meccarello’s training in conducting has included lessons and masterclasses with some of the world’s most sought-after teachers, including Larry Rachleff, Benjamin Zander, and Jorma Panula. He holds a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Bowling Green State University and a violin performance degree from Nazareth University, where he was a two-time winner of the school’s concerto competition. He can sometimes be found at Argentine tango milongas, playing violin for dancers.