______ Benjamin G. Del Vecchio ___________________________________________

8951 Long Street, Avon, Indiana 46123     (317) 272-0452      maestodelvecchio@gmail.com      benjamindelvecchio.com

Orchestra Conductor

“Since 1953, I have played with world famous conductors, including Arthur Fiedler, Eric Kunzel, Keith Lockhart, Leonard Bernstein, Eric Leinsdorf, Eduard Van Beinum, Charles Munch, Max Rudolph, Isler Soloman, John Nelson, Raymond Leppard, Kenneth Schermerhorn, and Serge Fournier. None of those conductors has surpassed the technique of Benjamin Del Vecchio.” –
Anne Day Heinrich, Violinist, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, 1967-1997

  • Founded and Conducted 7 Orchestras and Choruses
  • Prepared New England Conservatory Chorus for Mozart Requiem performed at President Kennedy's funeral
  • Rewrote music curriculum for Marion, Indiana, Public Schools
  • Became first undergraduate conducting major in the history of New England Conservatory
  • Performed with
    • Van Cliburn
    • Robert Merrill
    • Joseph Gingold
    • Nancy Shade
    • Menahem Pressler
    • Franco Gulli
    • Javier Calderon
    • Doc Severinsen
    • Carlos Barbarosa-Lima

Expertise _____________________________________________________________________________

  • Orchestra, Chorus, Opera, and Ballet Conducting
  • Coaching
  • Music Theory and History
  • Chamber Music
  • Symphony Management

Professional Highlights ________________________________________________________

Founder, Music Director, Hendricks Symphony Orchestra/Chorus, Avon, Indiana 2007 - 2022
Director of Music, Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Danville, Indiana 1999 - 2007
Founder, Music Director, Catholic Choir of Indianapolis, Indiana 1996 - 2002
Choir Director, St. Michael Catholic Church, Indianapolis, Indiana 1998 - 2000
Conductor, Spring Semester, DePauw University Symphony Orchestra, Depauw, Indiana 1997
Director, Adult and Children's Choirs, St. Luke Catholic Church, Indianapolis, Indiana 1984 - 1996
Director, Adult Choir, St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Indianapolis, Indiana 1981 - 1984
Conductor, Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra, Indianapolis, Indiana 1979 - 1984
Conductor, Music Director, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Carmel, Indiana 1981 - 1983
Founder, Music Director, Kokomo Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Kokomo, Indiana 1971 - 1981
Founder, Conductor, Music Director, Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, Marion, Indiana 1970 - 1975
Conductor, Owensboro Youth Orchestra, Owensboro, Kentucky 1971 - 1972
Assistant Conductor, Indiana University Symphony Orchestra, Bloomington, Indiana 1968 - 1970
Choir Director, First Congregational Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa 1967 - 1968
Conductor, New England Chamber Players, Boston, Massachusetts 1965 - 1967
Choir Director, First Congregational Church, Billerica, Massachusetts 1965 - 1967
Conductor, New England Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Boston, Massachusetts 1963 - 1966

Teaching _____________________________________________________________________________

Adjunct Professor of Music, Indiana University at Kokomo, Kokomo, Indiana 1971 - 1985
Associate Instructor in Theory, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 1968 - 1970
1975 - 1978
Assistant Professor of Music, Taylor University, Upland, Indiana 1970 - 1975
Teacher, Manson Public Schools, Manson, Iowa 1967 - 1968
Teacher, Nashua Public Schools, Nashua, New Hampshire 1966 - 1967
Instructor, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts 1965 - 1967

Education and Training ____________________________________________________________

M. Mus., Orchestral Conducting, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts 1966
B. Mus., Music Education/Conducting, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts 1964
Doctoral work in Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Accolades ______________________________________________________________________________

  • “Cues have never been so precise nor phrasing so sensitive.” –Kokomo Tribune
  • “He was more than a conductor—he also was a dancer, an actor, an energizer.” –The Indianapolis News
  • “Del Vecchio is given to an especially energetic style . . . reminiscent of Maxim Shostakovich. The total performance was . . . very Mozart and very effective.” –Bloomington Herald Telephone
  • “A rare treat. Del Vecchio drew remarkable disciplined response from the musicians, his own body language demonstrating a depth of feeling for the music.” –Kokomo Tribune
  • “Mr. Del Vecchio has a pleasing personality and gets along well both with his colleagues and with lay persons.” –Charles H. Webb, Dean, Indiana University School of Music
  • “Mr. Del Vecchio must be highly recommended for his personal qualities as well. He is not only hard working and dedicated, spirited and of an incredible energy and endurance, he is also very patient and reasonable, treats people well and is the most loyal person I have ever had the good fortune to meet.” –Wolfgang Vacano, Indiana University School of Music
  • “Mr. Del Vecchio has demonstrated an ability to get the most from available talent and at the same time serve as a stimulus to those aspiring to greater accomplishments.” –Joseph B Davis, M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Trustees, Marion Philharmonic Orchestra
  • “He is a gifted teacher and conductor who brings the highest levels of professionalism to all of his endeavors.” –Stuart Green, Chairman, Liberal Studies Division, Indiana University at Kokomo
  • “Benjamin Del Vecchio knows how to coax musicians and inspire them to play beyond their ability. As a performer, his appearance and demeanor before the audiences is brilliant. . . . audiences love his wit. . . . a rare find among conductors. He has few equals. I recommend him highly and without reservation.” –Leonard Cheatham, Principal Cellist, Hendricks Symphony Orchestra, President, Hendricks Symphonic Society
  • “Through his gentle manner he has a persuasive power to draw from instrumentalists what seems at times impossible.” –Mrs. David M. Davisson, President, Board of Directors, Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis