Recommendations

David Kim (Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra) — "Maestro Ponti is first and foremost, a wonderful and natural musician. His conducting technique is simple, clear, and uncluttered with mannerisms. He is extremely generous of spirit and is a sympathetic accompanist. I also find Maestro Ponti to be efficient in his use of rehearsal time."

llya Kaler (Former Concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic) — "Mr. Ponti's conducting gestures are very precise and clear. His performance was utterly professional. I particularly liked his attention to articulation, while maintaining a sense of flow and phrasing. I find Maestro Ponti to be an excellent conductor, displaying a precise technique, and with a superb musical sensitivity. He has the ability to inspire the musicians and to connect with his audiences."

Lilya Lorrin (Concertmaster, Pittsburgh Savoyards Opera, PA) — "One can quickly see that he has a great deal of talent and understanding for the music. Mr. Ponti know the score inside and out, knows what he wants from the orchestra and singers, and knows how to lead it clearly and with emotion. What especially distinguishes him from many other conductors is that he has a way of inspiring people to do their best for him, to try harder for him. Many people have talent, but not all of them know how to LEAD in all senses of the word."

Joel Becktell (Former Principal Cello of the Austin Symphony Orchestra) — "This excellent young conductor provided expert leadership and strong musical guidance. I found his demeanor on the podium to be both commanding and warm, with the result that the orchestra enjoyed working with him and attended closely to what he required of us. His technique is strong and he is easy to follow. He executed tempo changes logically and in a manner the orchestra could understand easily. Mr. Ponti's knowledge of the score was thorough, and he paid close attention to its musical requirements. The result was performances both the audience and the orchestra enjoyed."

Anthony Corroa (Director of Operations, Austin Symphony Orchestra) — "Maestro Ponti's sensitivity to the score, musicians and stage resulted in one of our finest productions. His clarity with the baton allowed the musicians a certain performance comfort that is rarely enjoyed under young conductors. His attention to musical detail and flexibility with respect to tempi solidified his rapport with the dancers. Musicians need the security of an expert conductor for inspiration and to insure performance excellence. Mr. Ponti is abundantly gifted in every aspect of his art and I look forward to having him back to conduct other concerts with the Austin Symphony."

Stefano Algieri (Opera Tenor, Siena, Italy) — "I find Maestro Ponti to be an outstanding conductor in both the operatic and symphonic repertoire, displaying an excellent technique, overall command of the orchestra and sensitive understanding in working with the singers. He earned deserved respect from musicians and singers alike as was evident in the excellent music making which he produced, as well as the thoroughly professional manner with which he conducted himself."

Jason Nicholson (Director of Marketing, Austin Symphony) — "Maestro Ponti has a commanding presence at the podium. Raffaele does not just entertain his audience but he engages them and makes them feel part of the music. Regardless if it?s a children?s program or a traditional full orchestra performance, Maestro Ponti conducts each one 100%."

Diana Eblen (Director of Education, Austin Symphony) — "Maestro Ponti is passionate about music and conducting and that passion shines through when he steps onto the podium - a living embodiment of "connecting people to the symphony and the symphony to the people, no matter what the age or orchestral series," -- his personal motto. A dynamic personality with excellent people skills makes him a favorite with everyone, orchestra, audience, board members and sponsors. And his commitment to excellence is evident throughout his performances. His deep knowledge of repertoire is reflected in outstanding programming."

Gap Mangione (Musician & Composer) — "Raffaele Ponti is a wonderful conductor. He has all the creative qualities one could hope for in terms of musical ideas and insights, and the ability to convey them to and bring them forth from an orchestra. He is warm, personable, enthusiastic, and inspiring. The particular quality I appreciate most is his understanding of, and capability with, jazz oriented compositions in an orchestral setting. He excels in the "translation" and the realization of the unique rhythmic and phrasing idioms of jazz with orchestral players, most of whom are not well versed in such expressions. This is a very unusual ability and is crucial to the successful performance of a jazz artist in an orchestral context. This special skill, added to his substantial operatic and symphonic conducting accomplishments, distinguishes Maestro Ponti as truly exceptional in his field."

Giorgio Leardini (Direzione Musicale, Accademia Pianistica Italia) — "As a musician, he displays a great deal of excellence and sensitivity to his music. His conducting technique shows elegance and confidence. He has all the qualifications to achieve a brilliant career."

Karl Kraber (Principal Flute, Austin Symphony Orchestra) — "His manner with the orchestra was thoroughly professional, but also friendly: He got our respect and our good will. His rehearsal technique was most efficient. His enthusiasm was palpable. He always communicated the emotional content of each phrase and section very well; he was very clear in his gestures and manner, showing just what kind of response, tempo and inflection he wanted from the orchestra."

Joseph Werner (Personnel Manager, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra) — "I believe Mr. Ponti made the most of his opportunity and conducted with musicality and style. I found the performance to be extremely sensitive and moving. Raffaele addressed his audiences with polished ease and worked with the orchestra with professionalism and respect."

Roger Daily (Director of Education & Outreach Houston Symphony) — "Your selection of music and performance captured our audience's hearts. I saw more than a few tears as the Mahler was performed."

Giorgio Lalov (Executive Director, Teatro lirico d'Europa) — "Maestro Ponti is a man of extremely high intelligence and capabilities. The Orchestra; Sofia Symphony Orchestra, which has made many professional recordings of different Operas since 1988 all over Western Europe, took to Maestro Ponti immediately. His gestures are very precise and clear. The Concerts of Italian Opera Highlights and performances of TOSCA that he conducted were all highly successful and greatly applauded by the Italian public who knows these works so well."

Steven Mark Kohn (Composer, CIM Faculty) — "Thank you for the wonderful performance of my ?Hymn for String Orchestra? that you so expertly conducted on February 18th. I have seldom seen a conductor display such musical understanding and joyful passion at the same time. I was also impressed with your easy-going manner and the way in which you connected with the audience and drew them into the performance. This is what music making should be. I would be delighted to have you conduct my music any time."

Richard Pearlman (Director, Lyric Opera of Chicago) — "He is clearly an excellent musician, a good organizer and possesses the "people skills" so necessary to bring together the many forces it takes to musically prepare and perform an opera."

Marco Perella (Master of Ceremonies, Young People's Concerts, Austin Symphony) — "I have found the Maestro to be poised, knowledgeable and most of all joyfully passionate about music and performing. He connects well with the audience, and since student concerts sometime require explanations and introductions, his good humor and charming personality are instrumental in providing a good experience for the audience. I feel this is a valuable extra that Maestro Ponti possesses in addition to his obvious musical expertise and leadership qualities. I find the joy and commitment he brings to his profession exemplary."

Peter Bay (Conductor, Austin Symphony) — "Raffaele is a leader who guides rather than dictates, who commands respect through encouragement, and gets musicians to perform past their current capabilities - he has a very clear stick technique, efficient and inspiring rehearsal manner, a probing musical mind, and a wonderful presence as a speaker from the podium."

John Beck (Retired RPO Timpanist) — "Raffaele Ponti is a conductor whose insight into the music, regardless of the medium, results in excellent performances. He moves smoothly from orchestra to chamber groups to percussion ensemble. Having worked as a soloist under his leadership, I always felt that he was in command, which made my performance comfortable, resulting in a first class musical experience. He works well with people and makes a good appearance on the podium."

Manuela Corsi (Artistic Director, Toscana Opera Festival) — "Maestro Raffaele Ponti, an orchestral conductor endowed with excellent and expressive musical skills."

Joanna Giesek (Retired Orchestra Manager) — "He was among the final candidates for Music Director of the Billings Symphony Orchestra last season. Of all the candidates, I believe he demonstrated the greatest music depth of talent and public popularity. He brought excitement wherever he went during his fully booked 10 days of rehearsals, public appearances and the culminating concert. I highly recommend him for any conducting or music director post."

Edward Zamora (Interim Administrative Supervisor of Fine Arts, Austin Independent School District) — "I wanted to thank you and the wonderful Austin Symphony Orchestra for the outstanding concerts at LBJ, Crockett, Bowie and Anderson High Schools last week. The concerts were well-received at each of the high schools and the student's positive response and appreciation were certainly evident throughout the tour. Maestro Raffaele Ponti was mesmerizing as he conducted the very exciting music and his rapport with the students was established early on."

Charles Hurt (Principal Trombone, Austin Symphony) — "Maestro Ponti's conducting technique was musically sensitive, accurate and his baton technique was excellent. While he is very professional in his treatment of the members of the orchestra, he remained warm and very approachable. His communication skills with a younger audience were most effective and well received. Many of the students and teachers commented that Maestro Ponti talked "to them" and not "at them"."

Eugene Gratovich (Associate Concertmaster, Austin Symphony) — "Maestro Raffaele Ponti is an outstanding musician and conductor. His gestures are always clear and expressive. He has the highest professional standards. He is most successful with concert audiences and with younger audiences. He has had repeated engagements with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He is a conductor with whom musicians wish to make music."

Dr. David Neubert (Principal Bass, Austin Symphony) — "What an enjoyable experience it is working with Raffaele Ponti! He is always upbeat and positive and literally gives us 100% of his expertise. There is never a dull moment in either rehearsals or concerts and I look forward to working with him every year with the Austin Symphony. He has a natural ability to adapt to the given situation (with us, it is Children's Concerts) and really shine. Raffaele will put a smile on everyone's face and make the concert an enjoyable and memorable experience."