Orchestra

Dr. Enrique Lasansky

Dr. Enrique Leon Lasansky was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He came to the United States at the age of 9. His musical studies began as a clarinetist. Enrique was a student of the legendary, Anthony Gigliotti, long-time 1st clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Upon graduation from Swarthmore College, Enrique received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for clarinet and conducting studies in Europe. Subsequently, he received an M.F.A In Orchestral Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University. During four summers at the Pierre Monteux School for Advanced Conductors in Maine and in private lessons at Hartford, Enrique studied with his principal conducting influence, Charles Bruck. Maestro Bruck was Pierre Monteux’s  (conductor who premiered The Rite of Spring) main protege. In 1991 Enrique Lasansky received a Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting from the University of Arizona. That same year he founded the Catalina Chamber Orchestra (CCO) in Tucson where he served as Music Director from 1991- 2008. Dr. Lasansky also served as clarinetist and bass clarinetist with the Arizona Opera Company.

The CCO started as an amateur group and became a professional ensemble by 2002. The orchestra produced two CD’s, “The Catalina Chamber Orchestra” and “New Music from the Southwest”.  Both cd’s were favorably reviewed in both local and national media.  In addition, the CCO was on the Roster of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and performed numerous concerts and workshops in the public schools. The CCO championed contemporary music and performed numerous compositions written expressly for the group.

Enrique Lasansky has appeared as guest conductor with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Tucson-Messiah Sing-In, Pima Community College Opera Theater, The Chandler Symphony, The Orquesta de Avellaneda in Buenos Aires, The Paris Sinfonietta and two appearances with La Orquesta del Estado de Mexico, one of Mexico’s major professional orchestras. Recently he conducted the Wieck Chamber Singers and Orchestra, a professional oratorio and opera organization. Dr. Lasansky was named conductor of the Golden Corridor Orchestra in Pinal County, Arizona in 2010.

In addition to being a clarinetist, Dr. Lasansky plays violin, viola and piano. He has taught string orchestra in the public schools of San Antonio, Texas and Tucson, Arizona for thirteen years.  His groups have performed with distinction at numerous festivals and competitions.

The DSAO Master Mentor program provides students with a broad range of musical perspectives and expertise with the intention of expanding their world-view of the arts.

Thanks so much for the talented Master Mentors that help our DSAO students each week.

Greg Abrell, violin

Matt Diekman, violin

Robyn Julyan, violin

Benjamin Tomkins, violin

Enion Pelta-Tiller, viola

David Short, cello

Jacob Thurston, bass

DSAO members are fortunate to experience first-hand some of the top performers, composers and pedagogues in the music industry. Throughout the school year, we invite musicians from around the world to work with our students. Their time at our school is usually brief, ranging from a few hours to a few days, but their impact on our students is far reaching, often lasting a lifetime. Funding for the DSAO Visiting Artist program relies solely on contributions and fundraising.

The DSAO Program is designed to work toward four goals:

• Development of students’ skills as ensemble players — concentration, listening, instantaneous adjustment, breathing, following the conductor’s visual and verbal instructions, retention of information over the span of a rehearsal sequence
• Development of students’ professional habits and ethics — preparation, promptness, mutual support and moral character
• Development of students’ knowledge of the orchestra repertoire and of a range of appropriate playing styles
• Development of an ensemble whose performances exhibit a very high level of competence and artistry

Timeline for School Year
2026-2027 Applicants

Audition outcome notification emails will be sent to all applicants who completed an audition (and their families) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Audition Requirements

The in-person audition will include a brief, informal interview to get a sense of the applicant’s work ethic, passion for music and the arts, ability to be part of a team, and ability to work with a variety of teachers/mentors. Stringed instruments eligible to audition at DSA are Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass (Acoustic), and Harp. 

Middle School Applicants will be required to play:

• One major scale and one melodic minor scale (two octaves 0-3 sharps or flats) plus a two octave G chromatic scale. Three octave scales are optional.
• A solo of their choice that demonstrates lyric and technical abilities (or two contrasting solos).

High School Applications will be required to play:

• One major scale and one melodic minor scale (three octaves 4-7 sharps or flats) plus a three octave G chromatic scale.
• A solo of their choice that demonstrates lyric and technical abilities (or two contrasting solos).