Dr. Sergey Bogza is enjoying his time as the newly-appointed music director and conductor of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra (MDSO).
Dr. Bogza assumed leadership of the MDSO following the retirement of Dr. Michael Luxner, who has served as conductor since 1996. An active composer and pianist, he previously served as the artistic director of the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra in Virginia, Minn., and also served as music director and conductor of the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra in Willmar, Minn.
"The orchestra is great and I'm excited to lead it," Bogza says. "It's going to take some time to fully understand the orchestra. My approach has to be different than if I were to just conduct a professional orchestra or if I were to just conduct a student orchestra."
A native of Taganrog, Russia, Dr. Bogza earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota, Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Central Washington University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Portland State University.
During his time at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Bogza served as assistant conductor for the University Symphony Orchestra, University Opera Theatre and led the Campus Orchestra program. In 2014, Dr. Bogza premiered two American operas, "Sister Carrie and Rosenkrantz," and "Guildenstern" by Grammy Award-winning composers Robert Aldridge and Hershel Garfein. He also led productions of Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream and Smetana's "The Bartered Bride."
"During my tenure I do hope to bring what I feel is my strong asset and that is my deep feeling for Russian music," Bogza explains. "Later on I hope to do master works of Bach and his passions. But it does take time to get to know the community and the players."
In addition to his work on the podium, Dr. Bogza is an internationally recognized composer. With over 40 compositions and arrangements, his works have been performed across the U.S. and featured at the New Music Festival in Kazan, Russia. His composition "Remember" premiered in 2013, and has since been performed in Germany and Russia.
Click here to read more about Dr. Bogza in an article from WSOY-AM.