Phillip Larroque
Louisiana native Phillip Larroque is active in New Orleans's musical community as a conductor and oboist. As an oboist and English hornist, he frequently performs with the Rapides Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, JPAS Symphony, New Resonance Orchestra and many others. In the 15-16 season, he presented recitals at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Tulane's Music at Midday Series, and the Marigny Opera House's Musical Meditation Series.
He is also committed to education as a lecturer and accompanist with the Newcomb Department of Music at Tulane University and maintains a private oboe and piano studio.
Larroque studied oboe with Jack Cozen Harel and Jaren Atherholt and most recently participated in classes with Robert Walters and Robert Atherholt. He studied conducting with Maxim Samarov and participated in conducting courses with Kenneth Kiesler, Larry Rachleff, Markand Thakar, and Donald Schleicher. He is a graduate of the University of Akron, Tulane, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.
Maxim Samarov
Maxim Samarov was born in Moscow, Russia in a family of musicians and started his music studies at the age of five. He studied cello at Junior College of the Moscow Conservatory and later at Jerusalem Music Academy and Southern Methodist University, and performed extensively as a cello soloist, chamber music player and orchestra member in Russia, Europe, Israel, and the United States. He studied orchestral conducting at University of Missouri-Kansas City and Michigan State University, in addition to extensive studies with Kenneth Kiesler in summer workshops and privately. Dr. Samarov is currently the orchestra director at Tulane University, where he also teaches chamber music and conducting. He has previously held faculty positions with St. Cloud State University (MN) and Luther College (IA).
He has appeared as a guest conductor with Pleven Philharmonic and Rousse Philharmonic in Bulgaria, Sinfonia Bucharest in Romania, and Fleur de Lys Chamber Orchestra in New Orleans, and conducted the premiere recordings of Symphonies #4, 6, and 7 by Canadian composer Alan Belkin. Dr. Samarov made his operatic debut conducting Verdi's "Rigoletto" at State Opera Burgas (Bulgaria) in 2014 and later conducted Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and Verdi's "La Traviata" at State Opera Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. He performs regularly as a substitute cellist with Louisiana Philharmonic and is in demand as a high school/youth orchestra clinician. Mr. Samarov is also active as a composer-among his recently premiered compositions are wind quintet, string quartet and a suite for 10 winds; he is also the author of a symphony, a guitar concerto, an opera "Feast at the Time of Plague," and a number of other works. He resides in New Orleans with his wife Tanya, a pediatrician, and their son Julian.